Quentin Shelton Nagalingam Israel was a Sri Lankan rugby coach and school teacher.
Education
"Quenta", or more commonly known by his peers as "Q," was educated at Trinity College, Kandy. He played rugby as a centre three-quarter in 1953 and 1954 under Dharmasiri Madugalle and Lucky Vitharana. By 1954, he was captain of the hockey team and was also an accomplished hurdler.
Career
He went on to coach them to victory on many occasions. Was honorary secretary, entertainment secretary and later elected president of the club He is best known as the 1st XV coach at South. Thomas" College, Mount Lavinia, who registered 43 wins in-a-row.
His protégés included Sri Lankan players Michael Jayasekera (described by Havelocks rugby Club coach Gamini Fernando as "being gift-wrapped and delivered to his club by Quentin Israel") who went on to become chairman of the Board of Selectors and PL Munasinghe.
They both played in 1975 and 1976 and were later described as the best Thomian team by sports journalist Sharm de Alwis. He also served the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU).
Was the coach of the national under 19 side and took over coaching of Galle Rugby Football Club after retiring from Trinity College. Israel taught Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics and is credited with emphasising education, despite his enthusiasm for Rugby.
He also coached the 2nd XI Cricket team at South Thomas College, Mountain Lavinia.
He served as a House Master and Head Master of the upper school where he had the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian. At the time, the college did not offer ensuite facilities for resident staff and Rajiva Wijesinha, who was sub warden at the school, commented on the "Panache with which Quentin Israel strode to the showers in a towel". Israel was described by Chaminda K. Weerawardhana, who was on the Trinity College staff with him, as an "Athenian" for his scholarship and his intellectual abilities, which he channelled into his coaching.
These are also mentioned in the obituary written by his schoolmate and fellow coach YC Chang.
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 memory. The Toronto Chapter of the Street Thomas, College old boys association initiated a Rugby 7 aside tournament to be played for the Quentin Israel Memorial Trophy.
Membership
Israel represented Havelock Sports Club from 1958 to 1965 and was a member of the 1961 Clifford Cup winning team Although he did not represent the country, he was a member of the All Ceylon pool and squad.