SLRFU must step in and wipe out indiscipline

By Lal Gunasekera

RUGBY: No more. Enough is enough. It's high time for the governing body of rugby football in the country the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), to step in and put an end to the widespread indiscipline on display in the schools scene. They (the SLRFU) cannot say that they do not have mandate to interfere into the affairs of the Sri Lanka schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) who comes under the direction of the Ministry of Education.

The SLSRFA seems to be in an utter mess. Schoolmasters who do not know a 'hang' about the game are in charge of its administration. So, what could one expect? They do not seem to know the interpretations of the laws of the game and are even ignorant of the rules and regulations connected with tournaments.

This has led to schools ending up at Hulftsdorp. Who suffers in the end? It's the young schoolboys!

Discipline starts in the home front. Schools must then take over and see that discipline is maintained and not "win at all cost" mentality which is practised these days. Remember it's the schools that feed players into club teams and then onto the national sides (junior and senior).

Referee assaulted

There were no problems when the SLRFU had the Schools Section under their wings. There is one solution and that is to scrap the competitive league tournaments and have "friendly" games instead.

It was only last week in the hill capital that a school's game was marred by violence with the referee being assaulted after the match by a national player of repute, who is an old boy of the losing team. The referee had to be hospitalised with a broken arm and bruised ribs.

The culprit was identified, arrested, remanded and bailed out.

A disciplinary inquiry was held last Wednesday and the culprit failed to appear before it and submitted a medical certificate. Now the inquiry has been set for Wednesday and the culprit concerned suspended from playing for his club until the inquiry is over.

It did not end there. Players too were assaulted and four from the losing side were hospitalised. The main culprit in this incident is alleged to have fled the country to his motherland. Now both schools have resolved this matter between themselves - an out of court settlement. However, the losing side is not dropping the charges made against the foreigner who fled the country soon after the incident.

Who is taking the blame for this sad state of affairs? The host school/club must see to the security of the visiting team and match officials. The President of the SLRFU, DIG Nimal Lewke, says that the IRB (International Rugby Board) rules are very strict on player indiscipline and if the player who is alleged to have assaulted the referee is found guilty, strict disciplinary measures will be taken. He also finds fault with a Vice-President of the Referees Society who was present and who is on the coaching staff of the "home" school team. DIG Lewke asked "where was he and what was he doing?"

DIG Lewke also blames the SLSRFA for not appointing a Match Commissioner and also for not discussing various problems facing the SLSRFA with the controlling body when requested to do so.