DIG Lewke assures Sri Lanka safe place to stage Rugby Asiad

By Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: Rushmans a private security consultant company in the United Kingdom, had wanted Sterling Pounds 10,000 to draw up a security plan for the Asian Rugby Championship to be staged in Colombo from November 3 to 10, but after discussions at length at a Council meeting of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) in Brunei, it was unanimously decided by the 25 affiliated countries to place their faith in Sri Lanka to stage the Asiad successfully without a hitch.

This was disclosed by the President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), DIG Nimal Lewke, who heads the elite Special Task Force (STF). He is also the President of the ARFU.

DIG Lewke said that the Sterling Pounds 10,000 requested by Rushman's could be put into better use by the SLRFU in its development work.

He had explained and even given examples of terrorist threats in Scotland, England and Pakistan with video clips etc and shown how popular rugby is in Sri Lanka as there are big crowds at matches. He had proved his point that there were no threats to rugby fans and the unanimous decision of the ARFU Council should be commended. Sri Lanka also celebrates 130 years of rugby in the country next year (2008).

He confirmed that all sponsors who came to their assistance to stage the Asiad in Colombo last year (2006), which was postponed due to security reasons, have promised their continued support, and teams have been given time upto July 31 to confirm participation and only then will the tournament format be known.

The Council meeting in Brunei also decided to change the structure of the Asiad from next year (2008) with the top five nations playing in an Asian Five-Nations Series on a home and away basis.

They are Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Kazakhstan and Arabian Gulf. Sri Lanka is in the Asian Division I group with China, Singapore and Chinese Taipei, while the four teams in the Asian Division II group are: Malaysia, Thailand, India and Pakistan. The 12 other countries (Philippines, Guam, Macau, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos, Kampuchea, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran and Qatar) are in the other Regions' Divisions.

The next Council meeting of the ARFU is scheduled to be staged in Colombo on November 10 where it will be discussed to stage the Asian Division I tournament in Colombo next year (2008).

DIG Lewke also disclosed that the SLRFU will sign a contract with CR & FC to install floodlights at the grounds in Longden Place - hopefully in time for the Asiad in November. The SLRFU are prepared to pay half the costs for this venture.

National pools (Under-19, 7's and 15's) will be picked this month (July). The 7's and 15's poolists must sign a contract with the SLRFU to attend practices once a week and this will be a programme throughout the year. The National Coach, Rob Yule, has drawn up a programme even for the Under-19 pool.

The Asian Under-19 Championship will be worked off in Brunei from December 16 to 23. The SLRFU has drawn up plans for the Malaysian Under-19 side to play two unofficial Tests in October-November and also for the Lankan youth to tour Hong Kong to prepare for the Junior Asiad in Brunei. DIG Lewke said that Sri Lanka Youth could well come within the top three in Asia.

He also disclosed that the Under-19 schools champions (St. Peter's) will play a Rest XV on September 2 sponsored by Singer, and that the Pakistan RFU has accepted a proposal from the SLRFU to host a Sri Lanka Development Squad in September this year for two games.

DIG Lewke also disclosed that Japan has confirmed that five top Sri Lankan players could play for their clubs, while the Harlequeens have to accommodate two players while Taranaki Province of New Zealand will continue to have two Sri Lankans. This year, Dushan Lewke and Sean Wijesinghe attended an eight-week training programme at Taranaki Province and represented Spotswood United.