by A Special Sports Correspondent

The school league rugby season will hopefully recommence from this week thanks to the referees’ society (also known as the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees) agreeing to officiate in matches.

There was an abrupt stop to rugby matches among schools for one full week due to a main referee, assistant referee and two sub-officials being assaulted at a school rugby match played at Air Force grounds in Ratmalana; supposedly one of the safest grounds for rugby to be played at. That match was between Science College as the host team and S.Thomas’ College.

It was reported in main stream media outlets that though the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) made a plea to the referees to return to officiating it was the sports minister who convinced the referees’ society that all would be okay and there would be security at matches when the league tournament resume. As in the past, the SLSRFA showed once again that it lacks management and organizational skills in conducting a tournament of this magnitude. As many as 84 teams were left in the lurch due to the boycott of matches by the referees. We still don’t know whether some of the matches that were postponed as a result can be rescheduled without running into difficulties.

It is reported that the sports minister had promised to provide the referees with more technical equipment. This begs the question whether the referees’ society at present doesn’t have the necessary technical equipment to do a proper job? It’s like telling the rugby coach that though we agreed on a salary for you we are paying something extra for you to do a better job. There is something wrong in what we hear and see.

It is absolutely necessary for referees to be fully equipped with the tools to handle a game because rugby is first and foremost a contact game and secondly because there is so much money and time invested on preparing teams for matches. Games are highly competitive and there is no compromise on the role of the referee. He must be fully geared and in the best frame of mind to do a proper job.

Unlike in past years, we have seen so much professionalism being instilled in the game and the referees’ society here in Sri Lanka has moved ahead along with the changing times in rugby. For example last season or two years ago we saw a school game being stopped by the referee because both ambulances at the venue were out taking players to the hospital. The rugby laws now specify that there must be at least one ambulance at the venue for a rugby match to be in progress. Player safety is so essential and referees are fully aware of that.

Then there is a move by the authorities to educate the schools about the importance of rugby referees at matches. All these go on to prove that the governing body for rugby in the island-Sri Lanka Rugby-must play a very dominant role in school rugby affairs in the country. Right now the SLR plays no role in school rugby.

The SLSRFA comprises masters who are qualified in teaching subjects in the school curriculum and their expertise is not in rugby. Incidents like what happened at the Air Force grounds in Ratmalana not only tarnished the spirit of the game here at home, it also put a black mark on Sri Lanka when one places the country on the world rugby map. Till just a few months ago, SLR was fighting to release itself from bans on rugby imposed by World Rugby and Asia Rugby; hence we need to put our house in order.

There was a time when rugby referees were doing their job voluntarily. If a referee failed to turn up at a school match any arrangement could be made to find someone competent and willing to control the game. Most often the role of assistant referees-they were called touch judges back then-were played by a reserve each from the two teams. When the present days are compared with the good old days it is now that spectators and players must be educated fully about the importance and role of the referees. This is because anyone entering the playing areas from a helper carrying a stretcher to the member of a coaching staff carrying a water bottle has to have undergone some kind of training to be eligible to play that role. The entire rugby set-up is professionalized at present; hence professionals are needed to play specific roles on the field. Can we say the same thing about the masters-in-charge seeing to the interest of teams contesting the inter-school league rugby tournament? The answer would be a big ‘no’.

We hear through the media that the Sports Ministry has initiated a programme roping in the police to ensure security at rugby matches. There is no doubt that security has to be strengthened at matches where trouble can brew; going by history and the recent past. But it must be underscored that school rugby matches should not be played in a ‘war like environment’ because these are all sporting events and not a presidential or general election.

It must be said that all Division 1 Segment 1 matches must have the television match referee facility to assist the main referee officiating in the middle. This is to ensure the smooth flow of the game without attracting negative influences from the crowd.

Coming back to the referees we see steadier and more confident referees at matches compared to the recent past. Some of the present ones may lack match experience, but that can be gained as referees put in more years in rugby. Referees like C.H Senewiratne, Nizam Jamaldeen, Roshan Deen, Sanjeewa Saranapala, Dilroy Fernando, S.W. Chang and Aruna Jayasekare were not made overnight. They were players first, rookie referees later and the creation of much looked forward to referees as the years rolled on. For anything that becomes great there is a process involved.

Just last year, after the referees’ society AGM, three stalwarts who did yeomen service with the whistle were honoured. They were Gamini Fernando, DIG Charles Wijewardene and Lt. Gen Denzil Kobbekaduwa. None of them are living and representatives from their families were present to accept the awards given in their names. What is good is the referees are continued to be honoured for their services and the milestones they reach. The referees last week showed that no rugby can be played without them!