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.