The Sunday Times Sports - The Rugby fiasco

Are bad qualities creeping into schoolboys of present days? Are they solely responsible for these actions or as elders is it up to their parents and school authorities to take the correct steps? These are the questions to be asked these days as most of the teams participating at school level want to topple their opponents and take to the top at any cost even under the belt. This is the ugly head taking Schools Rugby by storm during the last few days.

In one of the incidents in the William Gopallawa Trophy encounter between Vidyartha and Ananda about 7 of the Ananda players were assaulted by the home team supporters and even the schoolboys have got involved “in a free for all”.

In the second incident Royal College had lodged a complaint to the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) stating that one of the players representing Isipatana had failed the G C E O/L exams twice and even after being told not to field the said player in their encounter the school under question had fielded the player.

Today we look in to details and found the view of all sides the two schools and the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) stance on this matter.

Royal College says
Principal of Royal College (Upali Gunasekera) wrote to the Principal of Isipatana on 25 08 06 as follows:
We are made to understand that one of your players intends to represent your institution against us has sat the G.C.E (Ordinary Level) examination in two consecutive years and has failed the second attempt as well. Such students are ineligible to remain in school in terms of Department of Education regulations and are treated as school leavers

It is our firm belief that this is not so and that your team will field a team of players who are eligible to be in and attend school in keeping with the directives of the Ministry of Education.

The response from the Principal of Isipatana was as follows:
This has reference to your letter dated 25August 2006 wherein it mentions that you have been made to understand that our school intends fielding a team comprising some students who have sat the GCE (Ordinary Level) examination in two consecutive years and have failed the second attempt as well.

At the outset, let me thank you for bringing this shocking and spurious allegation to our notice before it can create unnecessary damage to the good name of our school. Let me assure you that your belief in us is well founded and these allegations are totally baseless and obviously made by individuals with vested interests and a sad statement of the times we live in.

However, despite the assurances given by the Principal of Isipatana, they appear to have reneged on their promise to refrain from playing a student who is not eligible to be in school. According to a copy of the Team Card signed by the Principal and Master-in-Charge of Rugby of Isipatana the said player had represented in this game.

When Sunday Times tried to contact the Principal of Isipatana he was not available for comment.

Why the delay in Royal protesting?
Sunday Times asked an official of Royal College as to why they delayed their complaint? The official told that they wanted to make 100% sure that the information they received is accurate. After finding all information we decided to lodge the complaint for a matter of policy and fair play. Winning at any cost is not the way the game should be played. It should be played in the correct spirit and according to the rules and regulations. He ended by saying as schoolboys it is up to the elders to show them the correct way and path for them to be the good citizens and future leaders of the country.

He further said that on a perusal of the results of the student in question which has been indicated above, it clearly shows that this student has not obtained the minimum requirement of 3 credit passes in the first attempt in 2004 and has not even secured an Ordinary Pass in Mathematics.

The results also indicate that the student has taken the examination in 2005 and even in this second attempt, has only 3 Credit Passes and 2 Ordinary Passes besides failing in Mathematics thereby not meeting the requirements to move on to the GCE A/Level class. He is therefore not entitled to remain in school. It is a flagrant violation of Ministry of Education Circular No: 2006/20 to have permitted this student to remain in school in 2006 and he therefore has no right to have represented the school team this year.

Sri Lanka School’s Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) Secretary Kumar Rodrigo speaking to The Sunday Times said that Royal had sent their letter of protest to the President of the SLSRFA Mr. Prematilake (Principal of Nalanda College). We will take steps to find out the truth. First of all we want to go the Ministry of Education and find out the correct ruling on this. Then afterwards tomorrow in the evening our disciplinary committee will meet and take a decision. So far it is too early to comment and if found guilty the said school may face tough disciplinary action and all the points earned and conceded against this school will be cancelled. We will make sure an independent committee is appointed to give a fair decision on this matter.

The Department of Education circular says
In terms of Circular No: 2006/20 dated 2006.05.23 issued by the Ministry of Education, Part 5 deals with the qualification required for admission of students to the GCE A/Level (Grade 12) class and also to remain in school.

Coach of Isipatana says
There are enough and more players representing schools who have failed for the second time. But the player in question who is a lock forward is in the Arts stream and he will be sitting and taking mathematics, which is allowed. If they are to take a decison against the said player and the school there are more than 10 schools who are doing the same thing They should suspend them as well. He ended by saying Royal had tried another top school team to join the protest but the said school who is having a good relationship with them had refused to join Royal. He also stated that Royal should take up defeat and play the game and should not win at any cost. More than anything they are sad despite all this they will remain in “B” division next year too.