Sports and studies must go hand in hand - Ranjith Chandrasekera, Kingswood Principal

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

SCHOOLS RUGBY: The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Association President and the Principal of Kingswood College, Kandy Ranjith Chadrasekera emphasized that sports and studies should strictly go hand in hand and to treat sports only as an extra-curricular activity as there is not much of scope for the lad who does sports alone in this country. The ultimate result of such a person who neglects his studies and depend only on sports could often end in disaster.

Chadrasekera, addressing the the SLSRA and the SLRFU officials at the Singer Schools Rugby League launch 2012 at the Galadari Hotel, Ballroom said that “the universities in Sri Lanka hasn’t much to offer a sportsman who has excelled in that field like in other countries where one could enter the university on sports alone. Universities in other countries have other avenues for sportsmen and sportswomen who hope to reach the top in whatever the field they have chosen.

However, Chandrasekera said that an intelligent and studious lad who indulges himself in sports often emerges victorious and has the making of a good and disciplined ,decision making sportsman and a useful citizen to the country with his all round knowledge and balanced views. So sports and studies together is an essential commodity for a successful future”, he said.

He lamented saying that about 1,500 boys take part in rugby matches during the season and only two players were able to enter the university this year which is quite alarming. “rugby is a body contact game and prone to injury. I have requested the SLRFU officials to reduce the duration of matches from 40 minutes per half to 35 minutes like what they did in the past. This will help to at least minimize injuries. Recently he said a mother came to him with her son who had sustained a knee injury during a match needing Rs. 300,000 for an operation. The mother made a request to me and wanted at least Rs. 100,000 for the operation. An awareness programme on the consumption of drugs has also been conducted” said the SLSRA President.

Nasser Majeed, the Marketing Director Singer, Sri Lanka (PLC), Ltd. Said that when they took over as sponsors in 2,044 there were only 24 schools taking part and it is encouraging to see 90 schools taking part this year in three divisions.

The competition has seen rugby of the highest standard as Singer has given their whole hearted support by sponsoring all rugby playing schools. Singer is fully committed to the development of sports as sports help to build men of character.

Lasitha Gunaratne, a vice-president of the SLRFU who was also present, said that the coaches at the junior level at rugby playing schools is not the best as most of them are either drop outs from the First XV sides or bench players whom he thought is not competent enough to do a proper job.

It is important that the rugby rudiments should be done in a more methodical way. The SLRFU is hoping to get down a Japanese rugby coach in May and Gunaratne assured that the school coaches will be given coaching lessons so that they could impart their knowledge to the youngsters.

The tournament is scheduled to start on April 21 with over 75 schools involved and nearly 300 matches in three divisions.

The first set of matches are between Royal and DS Senanayake at Royal Sports Complex, Isipathana Vs Vidyartha at Longden Place. Trinity Vs Science College at Pallekelle . Kingswood Vs St.Anthony’s (K) at Nittawela, S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia vs St. Sylvester’s Kandy at Mount Lavinia.