At Rugby World Cup 'Asian Qualifiers' in Hong Kong....:

Sri Lanka's lacklustre performances condemned

By Jatila KARAWITA

RUGBY: Sri Lanka Sevens rugby team's recent inconsistent performances at the concluded 2008 Rugby World Cup (RWC) Asian Qualifiers in Hong Kong, was roundly condemned by rugby critics who said that the game's local ruling body - the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has to sort itself out forthwith, with the country becoming a laughing stock in the region.

Former Sri Lanka star winger Chandrishan Perera, an outspoken and forthright commentator on local rugby since ending his glorious rugby career in the early 1990, said that the country has been badly exposed in the eyes of the Asian rugby community in the aftermath of the team's lacklustre display at the RWC Asian qualifiers in Hong Kong.

"It really pains me to say this, having poured our blood and sweat for Sri Lanka", he told Sunday Observer.

"Our Sevens rugby has hit rock bottom following the sorry performance in Hong Kong. "I think, the whole system where rugby is concerned has broken down.

"When you hear of reports that the skipper and coach of the national team is involved in public spats, that gives one an indication that all is not well, on the rugby front," Perera said.

Performance farcical

He described Sri Lanka's overall performance as nothing short of 'farcicals', only managing to prevail against rookies of international Sevens Rugby - India (49-7), before losing to such teams as host nation Hong Kong (7-31), Korea 19-28) and Thailand (22-29) respectively.

Sri Lanka had led (19-7) at half-time against Korea and 15-10 at half-time against Thailand, before contriving to lose both ties in the second-half, which Perera termed as 'unforgivable".

He stated that whenever Sri Lanka lose badly overseas, the country's sporting image will always take a beating and the onus was on the SLRFU to address it without sweeping it under the carpet.

The ex-CH & FC winger added that it was evident reading reports recently in he media that the local rugby house was in utter disarray and that it was further underscored by the Sevens team's pathetic showing in a prestigious tourney as the Rugby World Cup Sevens Asian Qualifiers.

Poor show unable to believe

"This is not just another IRB offshore event", he said. "This is a tournament held to determine the three top teams that would qualify for the RWC Sevens in 2009 in Dubai from the Asian region.

"What has happened now? We have managed to beat only the novices - India.

" We have been beaten by Korea and Thailand after having led at half-time. I think there is more to it than what meets the eye. The only remedy for Sri Lanka rugby, as I see it is to perform a "surgery without further delay", Perera summed up - unable to fathom the mediocre performance of the team.