Trinity College to be stern on ‘honour’

Old boys and school authorities furious over ugly incident at Canon R.S. de Saram encounter

Sri Lanka Rugby Referees’ Society (SLRRS) will stay out from school rugby matches, until the safety of their members are guaranteed following the dreadful incident occurred after the game between hosts S. Thomas’ College and Trinity College, played for the Canon R.S. de Saram Shield at Havelock Park last Saturday.

The high-octane game ended making the Thomians victors by 17- 14, but the losers Trinity, breaking traditions and the legacy they build over the years as a well respected school rugby team in Sri Lanka, lost all their credentials in a matter of minutes.

The President of SLRRS, Dinka Peiris, commenting on what transpired after the game, where the referee Isuru Perera and touch judge Nuwan Lakshan were manhandled and assaulted by Trinity supporters, stated that rugby referees would prefer to stay out of school games, until justice is served.

“This is unacceptable. What if something serious happens and one of my referees had to pay the price with his dear life. Would the anger of those supporters of the losing side justify their own actions. Players are human, so are referees. No referee would willingly commit mistakes, our mission is to produce rugby referees to the regional and global stages. This is discouraging and totally insane,” Peiris told the Sunday Times.

A young female supporter and a middle-aged male were accused of manhandling the said referees after the game, and they have been summoned to the Narahenpita Police Station after complaints lodged by the two victims of the assault. Footages of the assault began circulating in social media platforms and other sources, minutes after it occurred, show both the accused female and male acting violently, donning clothing similar to Trinity College colours.

After the initial inquiry, both the accused have been asked to produced themselves to the Colombo Courts for legal hearings of the case.

The accused female is said to be an older sister of the Trinity vice captain and the male is believed to be the father of the player who played in the flyhalf position. Seconds before the accused female sneaked through a security ring, protecting referee Isuru Perera and threw him a blow, as shown in the video clip, Trinity player Thidas Thanthrige is seen forcing out the enraged female and another female out of the ground, while largely in numbers parents and family members of Trinity players were seen unusually agitated after the agonizing defeat.

The totally strange behaviour of Trinity College followers have sparked off a hornet’s nest as the school’s Principal, Rev Father Araliya Jayasundara, was compelled to issue an official statement through the school’s website condemning the act of these supporters.

“What transpired after the match was appalling and a blatant violation of decency. The Trinity family joins me in unequivocally condemning this act of hooliganism. Whatever the reasons that may have motivated such behaviour, any such attack on any person, especially the match officials can never be justified. May I assure all Trinitians and the sports loving public that Trinity College will continue to strive towards excellence in holding the high standards of discipline and professionalism. As of now, we have initiated a comprehensive review of the event and whoever, directly or indirectly involved in bringing the good name of Trinity and the game of rugby to disrepute will be dealt with accordingly,” the statement said.

As days have passed by, more groups and societies connected to Trinity College, have raised serious concerns about the latest and unusual backlash their alma mater is being subjected to through mainstream and social media, according to insiders.

“This is something that should be nipped from the bud. It’s a situation Trinity College has never encountered before, especially in the field of sports. There will be repercussions on those who brought disrepute to the honour and name of the school,” a member of the school staff, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

SLRRS President Dinka Peiris further revealed that the Principal of Trinity, Rev. Fr. Jayasundara, will travel to Colombo to meet the members of local referees’ body, in order to pledge the school’s assurance towards the local rugby referees. Peiris said that a head of a school, coming down all the way to have a cordial discussion, is a great gesture.

“It’s indeed an honour to have Rev. Fr. Araliya in Colombo. As the head of the school he is trying his utmost to safeguard Trinity’s honour. It’s a great gesture, from Trinity and to school rugby as well. Our members hope to have a cordial discussion today with the Trinity delegation,” he commented.

The two cases are taken separately. The case of the accused male will be taken tomorrow at the Aluthkade Courts while the female accused has been granted bail after appearing at the Narahenpita Police Station. Her case will be taken up on April 11.

The fate of the two accused with manhandling two on-field officials of the most famous contact sport in the world, would be known to the world very soon. Unlike what is taught at schools and through sports, ‘what happens on the field, stays on the field, which is sacred to any sportsperson’, this is a clear hint that even elite schools are not spared, if their supporters are less mannered, ill-tempered and ‘unsporty’. For any athlete at school level, a sport and its outcomes, be it victory or defeat, is a series of lessons to build up their personality and future life. Elders misguiding them could only create a generation with erroneous mentality, as history has clearly shown. Trinity College has been in the forefront in delivering this, and now they have other messes to deal with, unfortunately.

Trinity was part of the last game alongside howetown rivals St. Anthony’s College, to play a school rugby game before all sports activities were abandoned due to the pandemic, in March 2020. Nearly after two years, Trinity becomes the first team to feature in the comeback school rugby game, which was overshadowed by, interestingly, not rugby.