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| Sunday, 02 March 2003 |
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SLRFU draws up short-term and long-term plans to develop rugby football by LAL GUNESEKERA "The Rugby Union has drawn up a short-term plan as well as a 10-year plan (2003 to 2012) that will be implemented within the next few days. We have mapped the route and have now to travel the distance." So said the newly elected President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), Mohan Balasuriya, a former Trinity College, CR & FC, Air Force and Sri Lanka "striker". Where the schools are concerned, the plan is for the provincial unions to conduct open schools tournaments and junior tournaments (under-19, under-21 and under-24) level, culminating in fully-fledged inter-provincial tournaments with the objective of having the best team (s) in Asia. A concentrated effort is also to be made to increase the number of clubs at provincial level - creating inter-club tournaments within the province leading upto inter-provincial and super club tournaments at national level. At international level, now there are only a maximum of 45 players who maybe considered for selection and that, too, without any standard, but the newly elected President of SLRFU hopes to conduct more international tournaments locally and also participate in many international tournaments overseas as well. The plan is also to change the development programme as well as the administrative structure - where there are only honourary members, except for a handful. The plan envisages a technical/coaching director, coaching programme to be started to achieve national levels, establish an academy and concentrate on juniors, intermediate and senior levels, coaching and technical support will also percolate to the provincial level with each province having its own full time unit. The SLRFU who have now got their own headquarters at long last at the Old Race Course, will also make every endeavour to obtain its own ground for its programmes and progressive efforts will be made to identify and obtain the ground and playing facilities. The provinces, too, are to have their own ground with each town too possessing their own ground later. The SLRFU also plans to organise fully-fledged women's club rugby tournaments within the next five years. |
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