Chang lashes out at schools rugby hierarchy

The cluttered schools rugby season has come in for a lot of criticism and rightly so. Legendary player and the longest serving president ever of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Y. C. Chang lashed out at the Schools Rugby Association in an interview with The Sunday Times.

“Mark my words this season will see the most number of injuries. The blame for every injury that occurs lies with the hierarchy who organized this tournament in such a haphazard manner. That rugby is a physical game has clearly not been understood. Any person who believes that a team can play one game and another in a matter of two to three days should have his or her brains examined,” said Chang.

He added: “After a game a player needs at least two days complete rest. If you look at the international rugby scene matches are played every two weeks. In local rugby maybe that’s not possible. But players should have at least a week between matches. Keep in mind that in addition to rugby being a contact sport, there is also the pressure to perform at one’s best in every game given that teams are divided in to three groups and promotion and demotion is at stake. Right now I can give you one classic example. Sean Wanigasekera is playing because he is the Captain of Trinity. He has crocked one knee. During this gruelling season if he crocks the other he is finished. This is just one example that I know of. Even though the season started just three weeks ago there could be many others.”

Chang also added that the season was too long and could hinder the academic career of players who are sitting for their ‘A’ level examination. “Nine matches plus the knockout tournament is too much. Ideally it should be seven to eight games plus the knockout. In addition schools that have Shield matches have to play their games in the latter part of July as I understand it.
This is too close to the examination. Rugby is not the be-all and end-all of a school boy’s life. Academic qualifications are equally important. It becomes obvious that those who devised this year’s tournament structure haven’t a clue about rugby. Given that schools rugby is the feeder system for the national grid, a season like this can only lead to disillusionment. As a result many school players may not want to continue to play the game once they leave their respective schools,” said Chang in conclusion.
Meanwhile current President of the SLRFU Nimal Lewke said that he was expecting a report from the panel he had appointed to look into schools rugby later this week. With regard to injuries he said: “The medical aspect has been overlooked in this country. That is a situation we intend to rectify.

There are various programmes we are planning and we are also forming a committee to educate coaches of both schools and clubs how to deal with injuries. We have a lot of plans as this situation is time critical,” said Lewke.