Naduli De Silva is a name to remember. At just 17, the Dubai College and Dubai Hurricanes star is already making history for Sri Lanka. 

She became the youngest-ever player to represent Sri Lanka and scored the Nation’s first Under-20 girls try after a decade at just 16 years of age. 

Now back in Colombo and training with the Sri Lanka Under-18 girls’ squad for the Asian Tournament in China on 5-6 September, Naduli brings with her a resume that spans continents. 

From captaining Championship-winning teams in the UAE and training with the Black Ferns 7s to earning a USA rugby scholarship and becoming the youngest World Rugby L1 coach in the MENA region, she does it all. Off the field, she runs ‘Ribbons 4 Rugby,’- a charity sending gear to underprivileged girls in rural Sri Lanka. 

She was a Ballerina and a Netball player in primary school and a fully qualified Royal Academy of Dance UK Ballet Vocational Teacher. Born and raised in Dubai, but deeply connected to her Sri Lankan roots, she speaks fluent Sinhala and scored 9A*s at her IGCSEs. Dynamic, explosive, and fiercely committed, Naduli is a trendsetter in the future of Sri Lankan women’s rugby.

Whilst at training in Colombo, The Daily Morning had a chat with Naduli on her rugby journey spanning across continents.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

What did it mean to you to represent Sri Lanka at U20 level at just 16?

It meant the world to me. Not many people can say that they were not only part of the U20 squads of two countries, but also they represented their home Nation at 16, so it feels pretty nice to be a part of that club. 

I don’t think I realised it though until after I got back and saw that not many people had actually achieved that kind of thing, so when my friend’s kind of told me how amazing it was, it felt pretty cool!

How did it feel to score Sri Lanka’s first U20 girls try in 10 years?

Honestly, I didn’t know of this stat until after the end of day one of the tournament was done and I called my dad. I was just trying to play like I’ve always played. I didn’t even think it was that amazing of a try because it was somewhat of a signature move that I had done multiple times over the years. 

I love changing the pace and cutting up the middle with my steps, so I’m quite notorious for it. The coolest part is how it went viral on Asia Rugby and Champagne Rugby, so how social media reacted to that was pretty crazy to see.

What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed between rugby in UAE and Sri Lanka?

Definitely the opportunities presented to the boys and girls, as well as the equality or lack of that I see here. 

Back in the UAE, girls and boys are given basically equal opportunity, with both genders having the same tournaments, established schools and club League, and somewhat equal academy and touring opportunities as well. 

I see the current union putting an immense effort to grow the game, and the girls and women’s coaching staff genuinely care for growing and developing the women’s game here, but I think the issue is a matter of the culture and stigma of Sri Lankans around girls playing aggressive contact sport. 

I still get family members wondering why I still play the game, even when I have already reached the international level of rugby.

I hope that one day, the responsible committees will finally establish a schools and club League to tap into the potential that I see with the current junior girls, and if successful, can really grow the game significantly, as I see there is demand for this.

You’re training with Sri Lanka Under 18s for the upcoming tour in China. What are your goals for the Asian Tournament?

This is the first time the U18s girls have gone in a while. Last year was definitely a development year in terms of rebuilding national girl’s rugby here, and it took a lot of hard work and dedication to get the girls to the right level that they should be, but it worked and we did quite well with some close matches against Uzbekistan and UAE. 

This year, we need to build on that success and come out strong, and I think with some of the talent and experience we have in the squad this year, we can aim to place fifth or sixth minimum. 

There is still some work to do though and we’ve only just kicked off our training programme, so fingers crossed for a successful China tournament. 

You train with the Hurricanes Women’s and U18s, and previously with the UAE Women’s. How do you balance it all?

Dubai Hurricanes is like a family to me and getting the opportunity to play for the women with some of my friends this year was pretty cool. 

Luckily the training isn’t too crazy and the club gives us a lighter schedule to allow us to do both, but I don’t mind a crazy schedule either, because I have made some of my closest friends because of the club, so training is always a blast! My teammates and coaches in both make the 45km drive worth it! 

Last year when I was in the UAE U20s squad, I got the chance to train with the women, who I know from the club. It was an amazing opportunity and my first taste of what training as a proper international is like. They are super humans for sure, as I learned when I did a gym session with them, but thankfully I was able to catch up. I think the balance of all these training works because rugby is engrained into my routine as a switch off from the crazy life I live as a student, and because I have so much love for rugby, I honestly don’t mind the long hours at all, because I find it fun. 

This is Part I of a two-part series. The second part, will be published in an upcoming issue of The Daily Morning

------------------------

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the interviewee, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication