Boa and Niranjan fly high in New Zealand
Manukau Rovers Rugby Football Club in Auckland, New Zealand, one of the oldest and foremost rugby clubs competing for the Gallagher premiership, has appointed former Royalist, Boa Athu, and Trinitian Niranjan Ranasinghe as part of their premier coaching staff for the 2020 rugby season.
Athu played for CH&FC in the club season while Niranjan, a cracking second row forward and fantastic loose player represented Kandy SC after his school career. In a unique first, Athu will be the Technical Director while Niranjan will be the Assistant Coach of the outfit. Gallagher shield, functions as the selection pathway for players knocking at the door for Auckland Mitre10 outfit and the Blues in Super Rugby.
Boa played for the Royal team (1996-98) and toured England and Wales. He made his club debut for CH in 1996 as a schoolboy. CH won the league in 2000 which saw Boa too touring New Zealand after clinching the Caltex Rugby league 2000.
Niranjan played for Trinity (1999-2000) and in his final year helped Trinity win the Bradby. He made his club debut a year later where the Kandy outfit became triple champions in 2001. He played for three more years before migrating to Kiwi land. He played for the national team in 2002-2003. Niranjan in 2006 and 2007 played for Otago University Dunedin ending his playing career at Summer RFC Christchurch in 2008 before taking up coaching as a career.