Is rugby moving in the correct direction?

Sri Lanka is known as a cricket crazy country among ourselves as well as outside the shores. This may be true when it comes to Test matches, ODI and T20 cricket. The numbers that are drawn to a school rugby match is much more than one would see at a school cricket match. Though the spectator turnouts at club matches are less than in a school match it is still more than at a club cricket match. Probably this is why our politicians who always focus on the needs of their voters are talking so much about the death of a rugby player – Wasim Thajudeen.

It is not only the politicians but both local as well as foreign media has something to say on the issue. The observation is that rugby has an audience and talking to them at this point has a value.

This is the current focus; but as a rugby nation are we moving to satisfy the palate of the rugby crazy Lan- kans who are found shouting as emotions are aroused more than in cricket. Has this game which has attracted many, going in the right direction. Has the province based constitution put in place to help to spread the game helped; this is after almost a quarter century where the ball has never bounced evenly.

Last week I spoke of the clubs sevens where there was only seven clubs in the game. One less than what was there a couple of years ago and three less than what was two years ago. It is no secret that CH&FC will not be seen on the playing field despite boasting of many decades of playing rugby. Last week the Club Division II games were played in Colombo. The game was capitalised by teams from Western Province and that too dominated by the Army, Navy and Police. Army had the strongest contingent of nine teams taking part. Hopefully these players will be vying for a place in the Army team during the Club Division ‘A’ tournament. These are all local players and properly harnessed can lead to the Army having a pool of over 100 players.

The irony was that there was no participation of CR, Havelock’s as well as the crowned kings of rugby from the Central Province.

There was a team Kandy-Sinha in the match schedule who did not turn up. Sabaragamuwa who have been feeding the clubs as well as schools in the last number of years had two teams. It was though that there was one team from North Western Province but on closer scrutiny turned to be another Army team from the whereabouts of Kurunegala. They

‘Kandy’ eventually ended winning the Plate. Navy won the cup while another Army team ended second. It is matter to reflect on what is happening with this so called provincial structure that is expected to help spread the game.

This leads to a question as to whether rugby is working as a group or a team or can this group be transformed to an effective team. It looks to be a remote possibility as the council is deemed dissolved and a competent authority appointed. This is at a crucial juncture when we have an Asian Sevens Tournament on hand and a club tournament around the corner. A proposed holding of the Annual General Meeting is on hold as there is a case challenging the validity of the Ministry of Sports who is supervising the Union in its current state. The last proposal for a new council came from the Western Province and I believe had the backing of the Central Province the two provinces that matter. The meeting being set on hold is the result of a case filed by a provincial union challenging the sports ministry ruling on the four year rule. The Irony is that the Province Challenging nomination comes from a Provincial Union that has not played much rugby in the recent past but has opted to play with rugby.

That is my question of asking whether it is a group or a team. A team will have among other things a clear goal, unified commitment, internal and external support. In groups there may be a formal structure and roles but the possibility of working individually and less collaboration and open minded discus- sion may not be possible. This leads to a situation of a group being a disorganised crowd. It seems appropriate to the present composition of the council which includes clubs whose sole objective is getting the requirements of the club at the expense of the game. Similarly the provinces can be lead to situations that pander to the requirements of those who take leadership. The question that is most likely to spring is about the grounds to play a match or the appointment of a referee or a disciplinary committee finding that may be adverse to their club.

On the other hand a team would want to pursue in one direction like the rugby team which is to win. Here unlike in groups a question of status does not arise as what is required is to accomplish and be recognized.

* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB

Accredited Referees’ Educator