Rugby show went on despite turmoil and leg pulling

By A Special Sports Correspondent

The 2023-24 domestic rugby season is set to commence in December (2023) and the good news that supersedes all rugby news is that World Rugby (WR) has lifted the ban placed on Sri Lanka Rugby.

Sri Lanka’s rugby community or fraternity was forced to endure much tension and uncertainty during the current year due to the political interference in rugby. As a result of the ban the national team was not allowed to contest some of the major overseas tournaments. WR imposed a ban on SLR on May 17, 2023. Just a few days ago WR announced the reinstating of SLR’s membership with the world rugby controlling body; subject to three conditions. As reported in media outlets one of the conditions is that any official of SLR who has been suspended by WR or Asian Rugby cannot serve the Sri Lanka rugby controlling body. Officials serving the SLR have been allowed to function till March 2024.

Still with all these issues SLR was able to field a team at the rugby sevens event of the Asian Games, hosted by China a few months ago. Sri Lanka had to field a team under the ‘Olympic Council of Asia’ flag due to the ban it was serving. Sri Lanka faired disastrously at this rugby sevens event and finished tenth out of 13 teams that were in the fray. It was heartening to see a player like Tharinda Ratwatte of Kandy SC coming forward to take the responsibility as captain and lead the side from the front. There was little time for preparations. But living up to the sporty dictum that ‘participation is key whether a team wins or loses’ the team comprising the cream of the island’s players gave rugby fans at home something to cheer about by taking the fight up to their opponents at the tournament held in China.

The outside world is often surprised when they hear of the passion for the game played with the oval shaped ball in this little island. In Sri Lanka rugby is second only to cricket; in terms of popularity. What really shocks outsiders is that despite the rich traditions and long history in the game Sri Lanka rugby remains little recognized and lacking in achievements in the international scene. This is largely because the clubs own the players and not SLR and players grabbed by clubs for fat pay cheque contracts to perform in domestic competitions often make themselves unavailable for national duty because assignments such as overseas tournaments expose players to injury. We’ve also heard of players selected for overseas tournaments not living up to the standards shown at home; hence such players being ignored by the selection committee when it’s time to compile a team for international tournaments.

Other than for that issue the rugby scene at this island is live and kicking. This year saw Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) continue with their celebrations for their ‘Centenary Year’ which officially began in September, 2022. The highlight of that celebration was the hosting of a sevens tournament which featured eight major clubs. The organizers also had competitions for schools and ladies teams. Kandy SC marked their presence at the event by winning the Cup competition and also underscored that they have the players to win and much to offer when there is a seven-a-side competition in the domestic scene.

Reflecting on the previous domestic rugby season that concluded Kandy SC prevailed over the other teams during the league tournament. Fazil Marija coached the side which was led by Damith Dissanayake. They won their 23rd league title and entertained their fans with some scintillating performances in the 15-a-side version of the game.

Unfortunately they made themselves unavailable in the knockout tournament, which was won by CR & FC.

CR & FC did well last season to finish second in the league. The Red Shirts were coached last season by Dushanth Lewke and led by Kavindu de Costa. Though losing the league CR & FC won the Clifford Cup knockout tournament by beating Navy Sports Club 24-18 in the final.

The other two teams which fared well in the season that concluded were Police and Army; rugby analysts predicting a bright future for the ‘soldiers’ in the upcoming season given the way they performed last season. Havelocks Sports Club hung in there while CH & FC proved a disappointment; finishing last in the league tournament that featured eight teams.

Last season there were quite a few rugby activities held by SLR despite the turmoil in the domestic scene; the analysis of World Rugby underscoring that all that was due to political interference which amounted to breach of a Word Rugby by-law. But when it came to the ban on SLR another reason was also highlighted by World Rugby; such as concerns over governance by SLR.

Some of the activities which caught the attention of rugby fans were the Mercantile Sevens and Plantation Sevens. All in all SLR had the ‘rugby show’ going despite the leg pulling activities by individuals who walk on the corridors of power.