We are trying to do our best for the game - SLRFU President Lewke

by Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) are not sleeping. We were elected early January and now its about five months.

In this period we have been putting the infrastructure into place and doing a lot of things, which people may not know about.

This was the comment made by SLRFU President, DIG Nimal Lewke, who was responding to last Sunday Observer's article titled "Pavilion View".

"What we are trying to do is putting the infrastructure in place. Certain people have done nothing to the game - there is no ground to call their (SLRFU) own, no marker cones, scrum machines etc. Within the first five months, we have sent two coaches to New Zealand and three persons are to be sent to Singapore for an IRB Level III Course" said DIG Lewke.

He said that the SLRFU are trying to enhance the knowledge of the coaches and its going to be compulsory at every school coach posses a IRB Level I certificate. Also, a committee headed by former Royal College, CH & FC and Sri Lanka No. 8, Bryan Baptist, which also comprises a host of knowledgeable personalities, have been appointed to "sit and review the entire set up".

DIG Lewke also told the Sunday Observer that New Zealander Rob Yule, Sri Lanka's national coach, has been instructed by the SLRFU to draw up a programme for the national side, which is not there at present and a big draw-back.

He further said that two Development Squads are to be formed - one from the clubs and other from the Forces and they will be engaged in games in India and Pakistan, who have responded positively to the SLRFU's request.

DIG Lewke also disclosed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the authorities concerned to allocate six acres of land opposite the Light House Hotel in Galle to the SLRFU to construct a ground and that the Hong Kong RFU have promised the finances for this project. An Academy too is to be set up and a lot of planning is going on.

He further divulged that discussions to convince clubs to contract Under-22 players from Tonga, Samea and Fiji are progressing smoothly. They are to be contracted for a period of three years and will then qualify to represent Sri Lanka. The SLRFU will scout around for these players.

DIG Lewke said that the SLRFU has had successful discussions with the Japan RFU to get top Sri Lankan players turn out for Japanese clubs. The Japan RFU have agreed to this proposal.