Quentin Israel

Quentin Israel

Mr Quentin Israel 1974
Born 1934
Sri Lanka
Died 2007
Nationality Sri Lankan
Occupation Rugby Coach and School Teacher
Known for Rugby brain who coached champion club and schoolboy Rugby Union teams

Quentin Shelton Nagalingam Israel was a Rugby Coach and schoolteacher[1]

Contents

Education

'Quenta' or 'Q', as he was very popularly known, was educated at Trinity College (Kandy) where he played rugby as a centre three-quarter 1n 1953 and 1954 under Dharmasiri Madugalle and Lucky Vitharana, captained the hockey team in 1954 and was an accomplished hurdler.[2].

Club Rugby

He represented Havelocks Sports Club from 1958 to 1965 and was a member of the Clifford Cup winning team of 1961. Although he did not represent the country he was a member of the All Ceylon pool and squad[3]. He went on to coach them to success on many occasions, was honorary secretary, entertainment secretary and later elected president of the club.

Coach

He is best known as 1st XV coach at S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia,[4] who registered 43 wins in-a-row.[5][6] He later coached Trinity to win the Bradby Shield on five occasions. His proteges included Sri Lankan players Michael Jayasekera (who was described as being gift wrapped and delivered to his club by Quentin Israel[7] and PL Munasinghe. He also served the Sri Lanka Rugby football Union (SLRFU), was the coach of the national under 19 side and took over coaching the Galle Rugby Football club after retiring from Trinity College.

Schoolmaster

He taught Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics and is credited with emphasising education despite his enthusiasm for Rugby [8]. He also coached the 2nd XI Cricket team at S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia [9]. He served as a house master [10] and Head Master of the upper school where he had the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian [11]. At the time the college did not offer en suite facilities for resident staff and Rajiva Wijesinha who was sub warden at the school comments on the "Panache with which Quentin Israel strode to the showers in a towel" [12].

Israel was described as an 'Athenian' for his scholarship by Chaminda K. Weerawardhana who was on the Trinity College staff with him[13], and his intellectual abilities which he chanelled into his coaching, are mentioned in the obituary written by his schoolmate and fellow coach YC Chang.

Commemoration

Junior School challenge cups (donated by Herbert Lakshman Fernando) are presented to the Most Promising Student and the Best All-round Sportsman of the Year in Trinity College in his memmory[14].

References

  1. ^ [1] G.D.V. Perera, Quentin Israel, Maxwell Gerlach, accessed 26th November 2011
  2. ^ [2] , Quintin Israel - The coaching legend of schools, Y.C. Chang. - LakbimaNews Sunday Nov 11 2007, accessed 26th November 2011
  3. ^ [3] Quentin to coach Galle RFC this season, Hafiz Marikar from Kandy, accessed 26th November 2011
  4. ^ [4] Death of rugby coach Quentin Israel, accessed 26th November 2011
  5. ^ [5] Sharm De Alwis A brief overview of Thomian rugby, accessed 28th may 2011
  6. ^ [6] MR. Quentin Israel – The Coach, The Mentor - A Tribute!, accessed 28th may 2011
  7. ^ [7] Four rugby super heroes BY SHARM de Alwis , accessed 28th may 2011
  8. ^ [8] Tribute to Mr Leo de silva and Mr quentin israel by DR Weerasinghe S.Thomas' College Old Boys Associaton of Canada , accessed 29th November 2011
  9. ^ [9] Cricket in the 80’s Stephan Anthonisz, accessed 29th November 2011
  10. ^ [10] Warden and the gardener -mistaken identity My Days at S.T.C (Episode 3)By Quentin Israel, accessed 29th November 2011
  11. ^ [11] From ‘Boys to Men’ at Mount Lavinia Ranil Peiris, accessed 29th November 2011
  12. ^ [12] How school should be remembered Sunday Observer Sunday, 5 June 2011 , accessed 29th November 2011
  13. ^ [13] Appreciations Quentin Israel: a true ‘Trinity Spirit’ Chaminda K. Weerawardhana University of Paris The Nation on Sunday, accessed 28th November 2011
  14. ^ [14] Legend in his own time Sunday Leader December 14 2008, accessed 28th November 2011