National rugby coach quits in disgust

RUGBY: Sri Lanka rugby coach George Simpkin has decided to quit in disgust, four days before the national team's departure to Hong Kong for the International Rugby Sevens tournament.

Team sources said a senior player of the national pool, representing a hill capital team, had allegedly threatened the former New Zealand player after a heated argument during a practice session in Colombo on Wednesday.

Sources added that the player had allegedly death threatened Simpkin and asked him not to come to Kandy in future.

Simpkin made a verbal complaint to the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) hierarchy and has decided to leave Sri Lanka in disgust rather than taking the matter forward.

Though the incident took place in front of all the poolists and the team manager, none of them have come forward to give evidence in support of Simpkin, who has done great service to Sri Lanka rugby. Simpkin has cited 'personal reasons' for his shock decision to quit.

The SLRFU Executive Director Dilroy Fernando, speaking after an SLRFU Admin committee meeting last night, said there is no evidence to take up the matter.

"George (Simpkin) made a verbal complaint against Nalaka Weerakkody but manager Jude Pillai did not confirm such an incident taking place. The coach is not willing to make a written complaint, without which we cannot take any action. He has cited personal reasons in his resignation," Fernando said.