IRB eligibility rule approved by Sports Ministry in time for Asiad

By Lal Gunesekera

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has approved the eligibility rule of the International Rugby Board (IRB) for players residing overseas to represent Sri Lanka and this will come into effect at the forthcoming Asian Championships to be staged in Colombo from November 17 to 25.

The IRB rule stipulates that a player residing overseas could play for Sri Lanka if his grand parents or parents were born in Sri Lanka or if a player resides for 36 consecutive months in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), Dilroy Fernando, told the Sunday Observer that such players need not hold citizenship or dual citizenship and that the SLRFU has already advertised this on their web site and that a few inquiries have been made.

Fernando further said that the format for the Asiad has not yet been finalised, but will be done by the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) in consultation with the SLRFU at the Council meeting of the former to be held on June 9 in Manila, Philippines.

Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong will figure in the Cup category (they are also to play each other for next year's Rugby World Cup Asian qualifiers), while Sri Lanka who lost badly to Hong Kong last week (14-45) in Hong Kong after beating China (30-0) in Colombo, are to figure in the Plate category with China and Arabian Gulf, while the other nations to play at the Asiad will be Kazakhstan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Pakistan.

He said that Guam, Philippines and Laos have not yet confirmed their participation and whether they play in Colombo or not in November will only be known after the ARFU Council meeting in Manila next month.

Fernando went on to say that the SLRFU are yet negotiating with the Sugathadasa Stadium, CR & FC and Royal College for the use of their grounds for matches at the Asiad with Singer (Sri Lanka) Limited as the main sponsor.

Caltex League kicks off on Friday

The Caltex 'A' Division League Championships which is been worked off on a new format this year, kicks off on Friday (May 26) with Police taking on Jawatte Lions at Police Park in the "A 2" category, while on Saturday (May 27) the "A 1" category games are CR & FC vs Army at Longden Place and Navy vs Kandy Sports Club at Welisara with Galle RFC meeting Old Zahirians at Galle and Dim-Dicks playing Air Force in the "A 2" category at either Radella or Darawella. On Sunday (May 28), there is another "A 1" category game between Havelocks and CH & FC at Havelock Park.

A new concept is been tried out by the SLRFU this season. While the 'A' Division games are to start at 5 p.m. on Fridays and 4.30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, there will be an under-23 game starting at 3.30 p.m. with 30 minutes each way.

"All clubs who figure in both "A 1" and "A 2" will field under-23 teams and their games will be worked off before the 'A' Division matches. This too is been sponsored by Caltex and our aim is to have a Development squad as a feeder to the national side. There are some teams who are finding it difficult to field an under-23 side, but we are confident that they will be able to overcome these problems" said the SLRFU CEO, Fernando.