Lions versus Japan in Colombo – a thought to savour
It all began in Hong Kong for the British and Irish Lions who broke a 16-year wait for a series triumph by thrashing the Wallabies 41- 16 last weekend in Sydney to complete a 2- 1 victory in the three- test series.
The Lions stopped over in Hong Kong where they met the Barbarians on June 1 on their way to Australia. That match ended in a one-sided win.
The nine- mat ch tour of Australia ended similarly with an emphatic victory which brought the composite team from the four Home Unions – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland – their first series win since 1997 in South Africa.
Already there is talk in Hong Kong of inviting the Lions back again in four years time when they make their next visit to the Southern hemisphere, this time to New Zealand for a series against the All Blacks.
The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union is a progressive and far- thinking body. Its idea have revolutionised the game, the best example perhaps being the inclusion of sevens as an Olympic sport from 2016.
The success of the Hong Kong Sevens, first staged in 1976, spawned the International Rugby Board’s World Series. This in turn led the world governing body to lobby for the inclusion of sevens in the Olympics and after one failed attempt, in 2005, when the International Olympic committee turned down the request as the women’s game was far behind, the IRB succeeded.
In 2009, the IOC voted for rugby sevens – and golf – to become medal sports at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. It all began in Hong Kong, with the world-
If Sri Lanka can make it a viable proposition financially to the Lions, I’m sure the Lions management would love the idea of returning to a country they last visited in 1950, the first Asian destination ever. History would give such a proposal added weight.
famous sevens promoting a version of the game which today has captivated television broadcasters which has led to the IOC recognising the fact that this is a sport tailor- made for the Olympics.
With its sevens tournament secure, the HKRFU then went in search of another second revenue stream and decided that every year it would try to host an international 15s match. This resulted in the Bledisloe Cup – the annual clash between the All Blacks and the Wallabies – being played outside each of these nations for the first time in 2008.
This was followed by a second Bledisloe Cup fixture in 2010. Yet, not satisfied with pushing the envelope, the HKRFU became even more ambitious and targeted the Lions and got them to agree to a stopover on their way Down Under this year.
All this goes to show how farthinking the HKRFU is. The idea of the Lions coming to Hong Kong germinated more than four years ago. They worked on it and persuaded the Lions management that despite the heat and humidity of Hong Kong in June, it would be a lucrative idea to stop over in Asia.
The question is if Hong Kong can do it, why not others? Why not Sri Lanka? After all our country has hosted the Lions twice before, in 1930 and 1950, so why not again?
By 2017 surely we can have a venue capable of hosting at least 30,000 fans – if we don’t have it already. Can the Racecourse Ground be capable of putting temporary stands around the perimeter – just like what Dubai has done with the Emirates Stadium – to create a fitting a m p h i t h e at re or is the Premadasa Stadium capable of putting on a show?
Shouldn’t the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union be looking at such an enterprise? Hosting top quality internationals will not only be a money- spinner but also help to raise the profile of the country.
Everyone in the world knows that in Asia, possibly next to Japan, Sri Lanka draws the biggest crowds to a rugby match. The interest is there. We should use this to help boost the game.
Just imagine the Lions taking on Japan in 2017 in Colombo. What a huge game that would be, for two years down the line, the Japanese will be hosting the World Cup. Perhaps, even a couple of Sri Lankan players can be on the bench.
One thing the game in Hong Kong was short of was drama. Most people felt that it would have been better for the Lions to have faced a national team rather than a select side like the Barbarians who although having some big names like former All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko failed to ignite. It will not be the same with a national team, for instance a team like Samoa or Fiji, those second tier nations who never ever get the chance to play against the Lions.
Nothing is impossible they say in sport, so why not, the SLRFU start mulling this over. I know definitely that Hong Kong will be looking at inviting the Lions to stopover again in 2017. We should put our hands up too.
If Sri Lanka can make it a viable proposition financially to the Lions, I’m sure the Lions management would love the idea of returning to a country they last visited in 1950, the first Asian destination ever. History would give such a proposal added weight.
One thing going for Hong Kong is that the ideas and policies made today will stand the test of time. Back in 2008, when the Lions visit was first thought about, the chairman of the HKRFU was Trevor Gregory. He still is. But even if had been replaced by someone else, the plans put in place years ago would have been carried on.
Can that happen in Sri Lanka? I doubt it very much. I can’t see any plans put in place by the Asanga Seneviratne administration today being faithfully adhered to a couple of years down the line.
This is the sad aspect of sport - and indeed politics - in our island nation. Everyone wants to make a mark rather than pulling together as one for the betterment of the country.
If everyone can decide such a move is viable, then a long- term plan must be put in place today. Getting the Lions or the Bledisloe Cup to Sri Lanka would be great for rugby. Can we think about this, please?