Rob Yule - new Sri Lanka rugby coach

RUGBY: New Zealander Rob Yule has been appointed as the Sri Lanka coach. President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), DIG Nimal Lewke said Yule has undertaken to coach the Sri Lanka national rugby team, initially for a period of one year.

Yule, who toured Sri Lanka last year for the Singer SriLankan Airlines Sevens and gave an exclusive interview with the ‘Daily News’, has made a great contribution to New Zealand rugby.

Yule has stepped down from the post of Programme Development Manager at New Zealand’s Taranaki Province, a position he held with distinction since March, 1996.

Since starting with Taranaki RFU, Yule has worked within sponsorship, event management, rugby development, club, secondary junior and women’s rugby. In keeping with the Taranaki RFU motto, ‘Lead the Way - Taranaki Proud’, Yule has been a vital ingredient in coaching.

Yule, who has helped several Sri Lankan club players to gain experience in New Zealand, will be in charge of both coaching and development work of the SLRFU.

Last year, promising Sri Lanka player Dushan Lewke had a highly successful stint at Taranaki RFU, playing the top grade domestic rugby.

D.W.