IRB funds needed for development work in rugby

RUGBY: Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Interim Committee Dr. Maiya Gunasekera says that if the International Rugby Board annual grant is delayed, it could seriously affect the development of the sport at grassroots level here, but stressed that he will not go on bended knees to the game's world controlling body, requesting for funds to pay development officers.

He stated that the IRB has either misunderstood the difference between an elected body and a Interim Committee or some people with vested interests has misled the world body advising them not to hand the annual grant to the SLRFU Interim Committee.

It has been clearly said in the IRB constitution, that the sport's world ruling body only recognises an elected union of a member nation.

"The IRB position is pretty clear on this", Maiya Gunasekera told Sunday Observer and added: "I have explained our position on this to the IRB. However, if the IRB is not willing to provide the annual grant to the Interim Committee, then they could give it to a Provincial Union which is an elected body", Maiya Gunasekera added.

He said that he would never use the SLRFU funds at any stage to pay the salaries of the development officers as the IRB has agreed to fund the development drive of the local body for a few years.

"The SLRFU funds had to be used to conduct inter-club tournaments, and other tour programmes related to the national team", he pointed out.

"Gunasekera has told the development officers that the SLRFU is unable to pay their salaries as the IRB has delayed it because they are not ready to recognise the IC. So, till the IRB send their grant, these people will have to carry out their work or else it will come to a standstill", Dr. Maiya Gunasekera said.

The SLRFU IC head noted that once the constitutional reforms are ratified by the respective provincial unions, an annual general meeting will be held before end of June this year.

JK