Now rugby made in India

Marriages, Presidents and Cricket Coaches are made in heaven. I read this banner in Mumbai while on my way to watch the Asian Nations Series Division 5 match between India and Guam. At a time when the country is calling for nominations for the election of a President and also looking for a Cricket Coach the banner was apt for the time. India is a country where cricket is a game, or is it a religion, that is followed by many. A rugby match may not be much news. It is in this background that India played and beat Guam by 47 points to nil. This helps India to climb a few notches in the rankings. The crowd that was present comprised new interest while there were the promoters of the game the one time stalwarts of Indian Rugby. Theirs is still a mentality of enjoying rugby as an event for socializing. It was more like good old times watching a rugby match and listening to the comments that were fun not harmful.

The Game between India and Guam played on the 23rd of June 2007 was played in pouring rain and somewhat bad light. The Indians present on the grounds looked puzzled and asked why the game is not stopped in weather that was bad and a light that was gloomy. To those who were more used to stoppages watching cricket this seemed to be a new experience. They seem to say this may be a good sport as we can watch the game being played sun or rain. .As time goes by and India plays more matches on home soil there would be more spectators on the grounds.

A feature of the match during the collection of 47 points was the goal kicking of India’s number ten Emil Vartharaja. Emil goaled all five tries that were scored and also kicked right three penalties and was on target with a drop goal. All this on a ground that was wet and soft underfoot. It was not only his kicking at goal that was something to watch. He did very well with his kicks in general play. He either got good touch or kicked to put his opponents under pressure. He also had a good cross kick that always put India on an advantage. India has also made use of the eligibility criteria and a number of players born to Indian parents now in other countries were playing for India. . In time to come as the sport improves and the Indian economy keeps developing the possibility is for India to have more expatriates turning out for the Indian Team. This will be testing time for others in the region as India may have more foreign players in the team. With India getting more professional in the world of commerce it will not be long before they might be applying those same business management techniques to the game of rugby. They will be a force to reckon with at that time. The time may not be far ahead.

It is therefore time for the local rugby society to think and help develop the game to reach standards which we consider ‘beyond us” It is in this backdrop we have to review our game and to strategize our future.

Today’s rugby match between CR and Kandy will draw a large crowd to Longdon Place. Will this alone help develop the game? Battered and bruised, the losing side will have somebody to blame. That will and always is a problem, but one must remember we cannot continue to blame others for our misery. It is in this sense that I copy the signal am worried about the future of the game. What future will we have if we keep on treating the irritants? While all others in the region are rearing to go a factor that has given much concern has been the behavior at school matches. The way it is at present will it not give satisfaction to those involved? We have heard of school boy players fighting each other. Also we heard of match officials being at the receiving end of the wrath of disgruntled elements.

The story doing the rounds is how the parents assaulted the coach due to being not satisfied with his decision on selection. . If this is true then the future for the other maligned lot; the referee is weak. It will not only be that marriages, presidents, and cricket coaches that will be made in heaven. You will have to bring down rugby referees from heaven. Going by what people say about the referees you may not find then there but will have to look for them in the other place. Any bets to find out who else will be there.