Get competent referees to 'blow' at Inter-School Rugby Matches!

By Ranjan Anandappa

Video clippings have revealed several startling incidents of rugby violence coupled with rough play which took place during the Royal-Isipathana rugby encounter at Royal Sports Complex. The chaotic situation sent three Royal players to the Accident Ward in Colombo last Saturday.

A member of the Royal College Union who preferred to be anonymous, told the Sunday Observer when contacted that the incident was a serious one and if they are not nipped in the bud, there could be serious repercussions later on.

"It all happens in a game of rugby, as we know it is a body contact game. It is common to see certain things happening in a ruck or scrum, but what happened on May 19th was simply beyond sports. It was horrifying to see someone bleeding from his eyes. This is called as eye gouging. This is something that we have not seen even in the international rugby scene.

Some may think that Royal's walking out cannot be justified, but it was just not rugby. We have written to the higher ups of schools rugby to declare the match as null and void as the match was not played for the full duration of the game," he said.

Referee Pradeep Fernando and the Master-in -Charge of Isipathana rugby were unable to be contacted.

Authorities stunned

The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Association disciplinary committee held the first inquiry into the matter a couple of days ago, and they could not believe their eyes when they saw the contents of the video footage and were certain that they have not seen anything of that sort before in a school match.

The match played in honour of an old boy of both schools, the late Major Milroy Fernando was brought to an abrupt halt when the Royal team left the field midway in the second half with scores level 20-20, after a drop-kick gave Isipathana the equaliser when they were were trailing 17-20.

Soon after the 'drop kick', a Royal player was once again assaulted by a Isipathana player, Royal skipper Rimzie Jamaldeen who was pleading with the referee for fair play from the beginning, kicked the ball out in disgust, which is of course not the right thing to do, and the Royal players walked out. Isipathana was awarded a penalty for the Royal skipper's act and instead took a short tap and scored under the post without the Royal players on the field. This act alone is sufficient enough to prove the referee's inefficiency.Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekera made an public announcement that he did not wish to continue play due to the players safety and handed over the trophy to Isipathana.

Isipathana off to fine start

Isipathana started off in starling fashion by scoring two quick tries which were goaled. However, Royal came back storming and took the lead which would have brought about the pressure situation for Isipathana who had been having a lean season this year.

Eye-gouging, punching and kicking of Royal players and at least two certain Royal tries were disallowed by the referee Pradeep Fernando. The referee, and to a certain extent the two touch judges should take a good portion of the blame as they were too lenient. The Isipathana players were openly seen in several instances adopting rough house tactics with the man in charge of the whistle turning a 'blind eye' and Isipathana took maximum advantage and continued their unwarranted play.Mid way in the first half a Isipathana player bearing number 3 jersey was seen punching a Royal player openly and a few minutes later the same player committed the same offence. Then in a ruck Isipathana number 16 was seen deliberately kicking a Royal player who had fallen and thereafter Isipathana's number 12 was also seen punching a Royal player. In the 18th minute a certain try scored by Royal's Shuaib Jabbar off a five metre line out was disallowed by the referee who instead ordered a scrum down.

Rough play by Isipathana

Isipathana's number 16 continued with his rough play was again seen kicking a Royal player. Amidst all the drama referee Pradeep Fernando cut a sorry figure on the field ignoring several incidents of rough play by the Isipathana players who took undue advantage of his leniency. If the person controlling the game had taken firmer steps many of these unfortunate incidents could have been avoided. According to reliable sources the two linesmen were provided with 'out reaching phones' or ear plugs to provide information to the referee who is controlling the game. There are voice recordings to prove that the linesmen have been talking to the referee with regard to the players conduct and the players who were indulging in unfair play. But the information given was completely ignored by the referee. It was totally incompetent refereeing.

Three Royal players-flanker Keshan Pieris, 'prop' Kaveen Perera and flanker Manusha Abeykoon ended up at the Accident Ward of the National Hospital where they were treated before being discharged. The lack of competent referees of the calibre of Nizam Jamaldeen, Dilroy Fernando, (Both from Isipathana who represented Sri Lanka), Anil Jayasinghe and Aruna Jayasekera have been felt badly in most of the school rugby matches this season. We hope disciplinary action against the offenders and the referee will be taken when the inquiry into the incident resumes next week.