Sportscope

Good move by IC SLRFU

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

We leave the cricket field for a while and move on to the field where the game is played with an oval ball and say “well done” to the Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union for giving the green light for clubs to field foreigners in the coming season.

As an initial step the IC has agreed to allow two foreigners (a forward and a three quarter) in the Caltex “A” division 2009 league tournament and the Clifford Cup Knockout tournament.

The Interim Committee has taken this decision after a meeting with the Advisory Committee comprising former illustrious rugby stalwarts who know what they are talking about and doing.

Every rugby player and fan acknowledges the fact that when foreigners played for clubs in the not too distant past,not only did the game improve all-round,it also served as a motivation for the all important spectators to throng the venues where the games were played.

Interest too, at that time was at its zenith and the foreigners helped maintain that interest till the final whistle was blown in,not only every game, but till the ultimate in the game,the trophies were won.

Probably with the cost of maintaining the foreigners becoming too expensive, clubs shied away from employing them and it was then that the interest and the motivation dropped alarmingly.

Now what do we see. Just run and pass and kick rugby with no exciting runs and brilliant work in the line outs or in the rucks and mauls.The foreigners added the niceties in this aspect.

Here is what former Rugby Chairman of CH and FC Kishin Butani who did wonders for the club and helped them win many a trophy while the foreigners were playing have to say about the allowing of foreigners to play this time round.

“The idea to allow foreigners to play in local rugby must be accepted, appreciated and applauded as a move in the right direction.

It will not only raise the standard of the game,it will also bring back the all important spectators,because spectators pay good money to see something innovative and different and not the run of the mill rugby that is now being played.

“True that the clubs will find it tough to maintain the foreigners.But if the correct channels are tapped and the experience and the playing ability of the foreigners are sold to prospective sponsors,the necessary finances could be found.

“I had the formula when rugby was within my purview at the CH and FC and I not only found the finances,but saw it that the foreigners gave of their best and nothing but the best.

At that time the club was the centre of attraction and even our membership began to grow.

“It is a brave decision by the Interim Committee and now it is up to the clubs to move in the matter,take it from there and not wait for “manna to fall from heaven”,said Butani who has an expert know how of managing,handling and getting the best out of foreign ruggerites is

well-known and what he does not know is not worth knowing.

‘Slow death’ Bucknor quits

Steve Bucknor, the much loved and appreciated cricket umpire did his last Test match when he officiated in the final Test between Australia and South Africa,at the Newlands Ground in Cape Town.

Bucknor finally put his finger that was dreaded by all cricketers down for good when he stood in the two one-day internationals between his country West Indies and England played at the Kennington Oval in Barbados on March 27 and 29.

Bucknor while he was in charge controlled the game to the best of his ability and it was the consensus of all cricketers that he did a job to the entire satisfaction of all.

His crowning moments were when he stood in five World Cup finals.

True there was a bit of controversy when he did the last World Cup with Pakastani Aleem Dal between Sri Lanka and Australia in the Caribbean.

That was due to a misunderstanding and no fault of the umpires. I was at the scene of action that night at the Kennington Oval in Barbados and can vouch for it.

His greatest disappointment would have been when the International Cricket Council sided with India and pulled him out of umpiring during the previous tour of India to Australia.

He sure would have felt heart broken because the Indians could not take his decisions in the spirit it was made because it was not wilfully done, but which were simply mistakes.

But being the sport that Bucknor is, as the saying goes in sporting parlance - he would have taken it on the bump. He can take satisfaction that while he stood,he stood tall and according to his conscience.

Ratnawibhusana passes away

“Sportscope” records with sadness the passing away of Clifford Ratnawibhusana, the former stylish left hand batsman and wicket keeper and captain to hail from Kingswood College, Kandy.

I had the good fortune of playing for the Burgher Recreation Club along with Ratnawibhusana in the early sixties when the club won the “Donovan Andree Trophy” and the “Daily News Trophy”.

As a batsman he scored heavily and kept wickets with great aplomb under the captaincy of Ronnie Berenger .

He was easy going and a wonderful team man.

Others whose names come to mind in that BRC team were - Bobby Schoorman, Russel Bartels, George Muttumani, Noel Lutersz, Allan Smith, Eugene Joseph, Valentine Obeysekera, Nihal Jayasinghe, Raja Athukorale, Herby Jayasuriya, Shirley and Eardley Barsenbach, Gordon Lowe and Peter Schoorman.

Ratnawibhusana was all excited watching his school Kingswood winning the schools rugby sevens at the Royal College Sports Complex on Sunday when he had to suddenly answer the call that came from his creator.

Pity that he was not able to savour the victory of his school that he served so faithfully. That is life.

Isn’t it said that in the midst of life, we are in death. Herby Jayasuriya an old schoolmate of Ratnawibhusana described him thus: A gentleman to his finger tips and a true friend.