Col. Bertie Dias was one of the finest sportsmen from Kandy who guided Sri Lanka rugby to be Asia’s rugby runner-up in 1974. He was a product of Trinity College in the 1940’s. Bertie as he was known among his friends, can be rated as one of the finest scrum halves this school has produced. At Trinity Bertie was under the watchful eyes of Philip Buultjens at rugby. Bertie had an illustrious career and left an indelible mark in the history of Sri Lanka Rugby as a player, referee and coach.
Under his coaching, Sri Lankans emerged number two in Asia in 1974. Bertie excelled in both studies and sports while at School. He was a fine, hockey player, boxer and a top athlete during his time. He won the coveted ‘Lion’ for Rugger in 1950 along with H.L.Fernando and R.W. Tucker, and in the same year, won the first ‘Hockey Lion’ with S.S. Bambaradeniya. Trinity’s recognition for hockey was granted only in 1950, but more than ten years previously, hockey had in fact been played quite seriously by a school side that called itself the “Rabbits”. Some of his team mates in 1949, under the leadership of K. Arumugam were E. Rulach, C.S. Bambaradeniya, C. B. Halangoda, D. Ratwatte, L. Kdirgarmar, S.S. Bambaradeniya, R.W. Tucker, M. Hermon, W. Wijarthne, C.N. Panabokke, D.Y.L. Pakustan, M.B. Ellepola, and R.B. Rodrigo. In that year in the first leg of the Bradby, Royal College won by 8 points to 3 and in the second leg Royal 8 Trinity 6. Then in 1950 he played along with A.I.J. Madugalle, D. Ratwatte, R.W. Tucker, H.L. Fernando, V. Wijeratne, Kavan Rambukwella, L. Pilimatalawa, Lakshman Jayakody, M.S. Paditharanthne J. Shanmuganathan, B. Speldewinde, G. Tenakoon, J. Weerasekara and that year’s captain was S.S. Bamabardeniya.
In that year Trinity won the 1st leg of the Bradby by 6 points to nil and in the 2nd leg Trinity scored 5 points against Royal’s 3 points. Some of his hockey mates at school were S. S. Bambaradeniya, C.H. Meares, G.H.M.N.P Elikawela, R.M.P. Kehelpannala, K. Palanoandy, S.M. Selvaratnam, M.P. Weersnghe, D. Wickremasighe and R.R. Williams. Today there is a trophy presented in memory of him for the Trinity-Royal Old Boys Hockey match.
While at the University of Ceylon, Bertie was a tower of strength in all the undergraduate teams. He played Rugger, Cricket and Hockey also boxed for the Varsity and participated in athletics. Having graduated, he taught at Trinity for a short period before joining the Army as an officer and excelled at rugby and hockey and was instrumental in the promotion of sport in the Army.
He was the coach of the one of the best ever Trinity College rugby team in 1956 that produced nine All Ceylon ‘caps’ and two captains. In that year, they beat Royal College in both legs of the Bradby, and also S. Thomas’, St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s, the only schools who were playing the game at that time.
The side was led by DN Frank and the team was made up of players like Ken de Joodt, MV Boteju, Franklyn Jacob, RJ de Silva, G. Weerasinghe, U. Ratnayake, Nimal Maralande, J. Dias deSinghe, M. Uvais Odayar, R.N. de Alwis, S.P. de Silva, A.S.B. Ellepola and Mike de Alwis. He was a fine coach and has coached many sides and helped them to play good quality rugger.
Bertie’s first major role was as coach of the successful Up- Country provincial rugby team. Bertie coached Kandy SC, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Air Force, Dimbula ACC, Dickoya MCC, Havelock SC, CR and FC, Central Province RFU, Sri Lanka Schools and Sri Lanka and when anyone needed his services, he was ever willing to help. Bertie underwent rugby coaches and referees assignment in UK. There had been occasions when Bertie had folded his slacks and blown barefooted at matches when the appointed referee failed to turn up.
Bertie passed away in1986. Kandy SC under the presidency of late Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte and with the help of committee members like Leslie de Zoysa, Hafiz Marikar, organized a Sevens tournament. This tournament was won by Central Finance led by Chandima Amadoru and for the first time in Kandy a Ladies game was played before the finals in which there were players like Sakunthala Perera, Duwonetha Dhanapala, Deborah Chinnaih, S. Ulla, Claudia Crozier, Sujewa Malkanthi, Manori Samarakoon, Vasantha Yapa, Sanella Wanigasekara.
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