Sri Lanka trip ‘awesome experience'

Otago Daily Times

23-05-2025

Former WBHS pupil Ben Sinnamon (second left) with New Zealand Under 85kg team player Josh Gellert (left), fellow coach Will Henry (a former North Otago player) and Simon Sia. PHOTO: JOHNNY HENDRIKUS / NEW ZEALAND RUGBY
From Oamaru to Auckland and as far away as Sri Lanka — rugby has taken Ben Sinnamon across the globe.
The former Waitaki Boys' High School head boy has made a name for himself in the coaching ranks.
He recently returned home from Sri Lanka where he was an assistant coach for the New Zealand Under-85kg team.
While Sri Lanka is not known as a rugby-mad country, Sinnamon said the locals got right behind both games.
"It was an awesome experience. They're such friendly people and they're really trying to grow the game of rugby over there.
"We really didn't appreciate how much they love rugby in Sri Lanka until we arrived.
"We certainly felt their love and their connection to the game and I think we had crowds of about 25,000 people at both our matches so it was a really cool experience."
Their first match in Kandy was particularly special, he said.
"The ground was almost like a cauldron effect. The crowd was really close and really noisy.
"It was just one of those moments that make the hair stand up on your neck, just the noise and the atmosphere and the positivity of the place — I'll never forget that.
"It sort of took me back to the old school days in New Zealand when the crowds were allowed to storm the field and the crowd was really close to the action."
Sinnamon hoped the tour could spur even more growth in under-85kg rugby.
"It's an established grade but it's one that's growing pretty fast.
It's really an opportunity for players that might not have continued playing rugby after their 20s or after high school.
"It's a different brand of rugby, as well. It's faster, it's obviously lightweight but it promotes free, flowing rugby and I think it was on display in Sri Lanka."
He enjoyed getting out into the community as they ran coaching clinics for local players and coaches.
Sinnamon was also announced as Auckland Storm head coach for this year's Farah Palmer Cup after serving as an assistant last season.
"It's a campaign I'm really looking forward to, diving into. We've got a big challenge ahead, but it'll be cool."
Their squad will be on the younger side as Black Ferns players are unavailable due to the Rugby World Cup, but Sinnamon said it would still be an exciting and talented group.
He got his start coaching, coincidentally, in the under-85kg grade for the Ponsonby Rugby Club.
"I've really enjoyed coaching; I found it was a way to stay in touch with the game after hanging up the boots myself."
He has been in Auckland for 11 years. He and his wife have three children. Both his parents and some of his extended family live in Waitaki.
"We definitely see ourselves moving down south at some point, but for now we're pretty entrenched in Auckland.
"It's amazing how quick time flies. I didn't anticipate ever calling myself an Aucklander, but I'd better watch out."