Jack in the box: Rugby violence erupts again

The relentless rugby violence is continuing. This time it was the turn of the old boys of Thurstan and Wesley to show their ugly side at the conclusion of their Segment ‘A’ inter school league encounter at Longden Place on Friday.

Rugby violence at school rugby matches reached a new high last week following the match between Kingswood and Trinity. A free-for-all saw more than four people rushed to hospital. Referee Pradeep Fernando was assaulted while entering the dressing room allegedly by senior Sri Lankan Sevens player. His injuries were such that he had to be admitted to the Kandy Hospital. Inquiries by the authorities concerned are still continuing.

Following this episode The Referees Society had refused to referee any match involving Trinity. It was only after the intervention of the president of The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Nimal Lewke, that the Referees Society agreed on a compromise whereby the host school would give the respective match commissioner a letter certifying that all precautions possible had been taken to protect the officials. This certificate has to be given before the match commences. Failure would result in the referee not officiating at the game. However, in this case the officials had gone ahead in good faith.

Informed sources told The Sunday Times that this had not happened at the clash between Wesley and Thurstan. And in this case it was touch judge T Samath who was injured. The source added that following a meeting the possibility was high that the referees would refuse to officiate at any match involving the two schools.

As is the norm after such incidents both sides point fingers at the other and refuse to take responsibility. Disciplinary action can only be taken after reports are submitted by the referee, touch judges and match commissioner.

A member remarked on the contrast between these incidents and the measures taken by a leading school in Colombo even before it became compulsory for a certificate of assurance to be issued. This school is also formulating a code of conduct for spectators with severe consequences for any one who flouts even one of the rules written down.