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A plea to revive schools’ rugby in Badulla
By V.T. Rajah
Rugby, which was introduced to the Schools in Uva during the year 2004/05 is confined only for tournaments against outstation teams where as there are no tournaments amongst the schools in Uva!

Few decades back Uva was the helm in the Rugby field where the “Merrie Men of Uva” dominated the game. The first Uva Rugby team was formed in 1908 where Planter F. Doveton Boyd captained the team. Since then the Brown Sahibs continued to play Rugby in the hills until early nineties. Thereafter Rugby faded away as the Schools were not given opportunity to play Rugby.
It was only during 2004/05 that the Technical Officer of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union B.K. Ramachandran introduced Rugby among schools in Uva. Prior to that the Planters in Uva monopolized the game.

Ramachandran better known as B.K. in the Rugby field trained nearly 15 schools (Boys and Girls) in Uva. They participated in Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 tournaments conducted by the SLRFU. The only failure was that no tournaments were conducted amongst the schools in Uva. As a result Rugby comes to a standstill in Uva immediately after a tournament with outstation teams.

However Uva province Rugby Union was formed and after a decade Uva Club represented the Singer Professional 7-a-side and reached the Bowl Semifinals. Four Women Rugby players too were selected for the Sri Lanka Rugby Pool. If arrangements are made to conduct a tournament amongst the schools in the area, Uva could regain their lost prestige.

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