Sports
Green light for rugby players, but SLR continues to battle AR
By A Special Sports Correspondent
The fast-running Sri Lankans and their frolics in the abbreviated form of rugby union will be missed at the opener of the Asian Sevens Rugby Series which is scheduled to commence in Thailand on October 22 (Saturday). This is on account of there being a tug-of-war between Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and Asian Rugby (AR).
SLR’s position in the sport as of now stands in jeopardy because of its membership with the Asian rugby controlling body being suspended. The result of that move is Sri Lanka now being unable to contest international tournaments under its national flag. Arrangements however have been made for Sri Lanka’s rugby teams (men’s and women’s) to feature in the tournament’s second leg onwards under the flag of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s chances of contesting the tournament at least from the second leg scheduled in South Korea- onwards became a reality after Sri Lanka’s sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe intervened in the matter and initiated a discussion with AR President Qais Al-Dhalai. Ranasinghe had requested AR’s president to lift the ban on Sri Lanka Rugby and allow the participation of the island’s rugby teams in future Asian Sevens Tournaments.
Unlike in the 15-a-side version of the game the seven-a-side version of the sport is a discipline at the Olympic Games. Hence there are reports that Al-Dhalai was requested by the NOCSL not to prevent Sri Lanka from contesting the Asian Rugby Sevens because rugby sevens comes under the Olympic Charter. Preventing the participation of any country at sport goes against the spirit of the Olympic Games.
The SLR and AR started being at loggerheads since April this year. This was after the then sports minister Namal Rajapaksa suspended the registration of SLR with the Ministry of Sports. The AR subsequently suspended the SLR citing political interference. Then there was some good news for SLR when the court of appeal issued an enjoining order on May 13 preventing the suspension of SLR’s membership with the Ministry of Sports.
Despite the sanctions imposed on SLR its elected officials have done well in promoting the game and conducting tournaments and rugby events. The SLR has also signed MOUs with other rugby unions, signed sponsorships deals and appointed new members to serve in the governing body for rugby in Sri Lanka.
Some weeks back it organised its awards night for the winners and top players who featured in the last league rugby tournament and also conducted many rugby-related workshops and programmes. It also conducted the much-awaited inter-club rugby sevens tournament at which Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club emerged victorious.
It’s known to the rugby fraternity here that SLR President Rizly Illyas and former sports minister Namal Rajapaksa didn’t see eye to eye in rugby-related matters. Rugby sources revealed that Rajapaksa wanted to bulldoze over the SLR with his agenda; a move which Illyas and his executive committee fought fiercely with the aim of safeguarding the independence of the local rugby controlling body. Rajapaksa suspended the registration of the SLR with the Ministry of Sports through a gazette notification.
However after the regime change in the country the newly appointed sports minister Ranasinghe has been quite supportive of SLR. SLR has also received the backing of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka. NOC SL President Suresh Subramanium has, according to newspaper reports, affirmed that people and individuals entrusted with power may come and go, but sports and laws governed by the NOC must be respected. He had also added that no official nor politician is bigger than the game.
Sri Lanka’s rugby rift with Asian Rugby was even brought to light at the recently concluded Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly held in Cambodia. Also, the SLR has received the backing of the rugby fraternity at home; largely because the local rugby controlling body was victimized firstly politically and secondly by the acts of Asian Rugby. Asian Rugby has meanwhile maintained, according to media reports, that the SLR was suspended regarding matters associated with the leadership of the rugby union among other allegations.
Sanctions imposed against SLR have still not been lifted. AR in a communique, that was run on digital media, has said that ‘for the suspension on SLR to be lifted we require SLR to provide substantive and conclusive evidence that SLR is now fully responsible for the organization of rugby related matters under its jurisdiction and that it is in a position to perform its constitutional and regulatory duties in an appropriate manner’.
SLR has stood its ground and taken the fight up to the AR. Rugby sources have hinted that there could be a hidden Sri Lanka hand in this matter where the AR is tuned into working against the interests of SLR.
Despite all these issues Sri Lanka’s rugby players are set to make their appearance at the second edition of the Asian Rugby Sevens series, scheduled to take place on November 12 and 13 in South Korea. The third and final leg of the Asian Rugby Sevens will be held on November 26 and 27 in Dubai.
Corbin Bosch has been served legal notice by the PCB, alleging breach of contractual obligations, after the South Africa allrounder signed for Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025, thus pulling out of PSL 2025.
This season is the first in which the PSL will be played concurrently with the IPL: The IPL will run from March 22 to May 25, and the PSL from April 11 to May 18. Bosch had been picked by Peshawar Zalmi, in the diamond category, at the PSL draft that was held in January. But on March 8, it was announced by Mumbai Indians that he would be replacing the injured Lizaad Williams in their squad.
The PSL franchises have been keen to take some sort of action on Bosch, as they are worried it could set a precedent for players signing up with the PSL but then switching to the IPL. The idea of an outright ban on such players has also been floated in informal discussions.
A PCB statement said: “The legal notice was served through his agent, and the player has been asked to justify his actions of withdrawing from his professional and contractual commitments. The PCB management has also outlined the repercussions of his departure from the league and expects his response within the stipulated time frame. The PCB will not make any further comments on the matter.”
The statement did not specify what the time frame was for Bosch to respond.
The PCB had shifted the PSL window with a view to improve the quality and availability of overseas players whom the league would be able to sign. When the PSL was in the February-March window, it also had to compete with the SA20, ILT20 and the BPL for players. ESPN Cricinfo had reported last year when the window was changed that holding the PSL draft after the IPL auction had also been discussed, to have greater clarity about the availability of overseas players for the league. Leading into this season, the IPL auction was held in November 2024 and the PSL draft in January 2025.
The PSL draft duly attracted a large number of high-profile players, including David Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Jason Holder, Rassie van der Dussen and Kane Williamson.
[Cricinfo]
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Kandy Sports Club crowned themselves as ‘Cup Championship’ winners in the inter-club league rugby tournament when they overcame their final hurdle by beating Havelocks Sports Club by 50 points to 24 at Nittawela last evening.
Kandy SC was anyway assured of the title this season before this final game of the season even began, given that they were unbeaten thus far in the league tournament. Kandy SC collected their points through seven tries, six conversions and a penalty while Havelocks Sports Club responded with a three converted tries and a penalty.
Kandy SC set the pace for the game from the kick off itself and recorded first half tries through Dinal Ekanayake, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Kenula Hettiarachchi and Dahan Wickremaarachchi and all four conversions were slotted in by Tharinda Ratwatte. Havelocks SC got most of their points in the first half through Sandesh Jayawickreme who scored a try and booted through a conversion. The penalty for the Park Club was kicked right by Samuel Maduwantha.
Kandy SC faced some resistance from Havies after the turn around, but the side from Nittawela found the try line by breaking through a barrage of tackles from the men wearing the pink and chocolate jerseys.
Dahan Wickremaarachchi started the ball rolling for Kandy with a try after the turn around which took the side’s score to 38 with the conversion. Havies played in patches thereafter and scored through Jayathu Rajaratne and Janidu Fernando. Jayawickreme was spot on with the conversions.
Kandy’s Ethen Schneider Loos smashed his way through for the side’s sixth try which was converted by Ratwatte. Kandy had the game in the bag despite Havies playing attacking rugby whenever they had possession. But the score line deference that Kandy maintained throughout the game made it hard for Havies to make a real comeback into the game.
The Nittwala side erupted in jubilation when Ekanayake punted ahead and sent crowd favourite Nigel Ratwatte for the seventh and final try. There was speculation throughout the game that this would be Nigel’s final game for the Kandy SC side. Surprisingly Tharinda missed the conversion.
At the awards presentation ceremony after the game, Kandy Sports Club’s Tharinda Ratwatte was named as the highest points scorer for the 2024/25 league rugby season. He has accumulated 139 points this season.
Havelocks Sports produced the highest try scorer for the season. That award went to Jayathu Rajaratne of Havies. He has had 16 touchdowns this season. Havelocks Sports Club had to be satisfied with the runners-up trophy at the awards presentation. Players from both sides including the coaching staff were presented with medals by the organisers of the tournament.
Meanwhile CR&FC did well in their last outing in the Cup Championship segment of the league tournament when they beat Air Force by 31 points to 16 at Longden Place.
In the two Plate Segment matches, Sri Lanka Navy beat Sri Lions by 41 points to 38 at Race Course.In the other match of the Plate segment, Police SC beat Army SC by 24 points to 17. The match was played at Police Park.
Mutthusami Sivarajan and Rasara Wijesuriya won the men’s and women’s Cross Country Championships of the National Sports Festival conducted in Nuwara Eliya.
Sivarajan representing Central Province returned a time of 34 minutes and 21 seconds to finish ahead of Samantha Pushpakumara and Damith Hemantha Kumara.
In the women’s category, Wijesuriya from Eastern Province clocked 38 minutes and 41 seconds finish ahead of Madhushani Herath and Chamini Herath.
-
Foreign News3 days agoSearch continues in Dominican Republic for missing student Sudiksha Konanki
-
Features5 days agoRichard de Zoysa at 67
-
News6 days agoAlfred Duraiappa’s relative killed in Canada shooting
-
Editorial7 days agoGhosts refusing to fade away
-
Midweek Review6 days agoRanil in Head-to-Head controversy
-
Features5 days agoSL Navy helping save kidneys
-
Features7 days agoThe Gypsies…one year at a time
-
News3 days agoDPMC unveils brand-new Bajaj three-wheeler