Shamlie Nawaz appointed Head Coach at Thurstan

By Shamseer Jaleel

Shamlie Nawaz, the former Isipathana and Sri Lanka national rugby player, as well as the current Army Head Coach, has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Thurstan College rugby team for the 2025 season.

Shamlie, a former standout for the Green Shirts, went on to captain the Sri Lanka Junior National Rugby Team. As a top-tier third-row player, he represented the national sevens and fifteens teams. At the club level, Shamlie played for and captained the CR & FC team.

In his coaching career, he has served as the Head Coach for Isipathana, Zahira College, S. Thomas' College, Police SC, and Air Force. He also worked as an Assistant Coach for CR & FC in 2015 and 2016.

Shamlie has been the Head Coach of the Army rugby team since 2023. He previously served as the National Junior Coach in 2012 and was later appointed as the Sri Lanka Sevens Assistant Coach in 2022 and 2023.

A World Rugby Level 3 Coach and Educator, Shamlie Nawaz is also the current Head Coach of the Sri Lanka Women’s Rugby Team.