Enough rugby to be talked about on and off the field
View(s):The school rugby season is in its third week a while two weeks completed so far. The game is yet to dazzle and has provided little shock. The fun however is yet to start as minions battle the bigger boys at this stage. The shock of a Joe-Pete at the start of the season will not always follow a Pathana-Royal or Trinity early in the season. Thus far Trinity, Royal, Isipathana and St. Joseph’s are in front and to catch them up it is an upward climb. Ready for that climb are S. Thomas’, Kingswood, Wesley and Science. Wait on as still it is not time for the music and to roll on the barrel.
A victim of big league school rugby is CWW Kannangara MV, who have so far conceded over 60 points in three weeks after being promoted to the top league. They are likely to breakdown more as they find difficulty in their replacement as one sees a number of injuries. It seems to be a fact that schools who get promoted to the higher league find difficulty to survive. A long term impact of this is that the players who perform well in the lower league find themselves in a tough spot. This might mean that these players may be lost to the game. It is true that in schools as well as in club rugby a new entrant finds difficult to match their opponents. It is an indication that there is a serious gap between the top teams and the next in the ladder. Injuries are a common sight in most matches in the first two weeks of rugby.
With heavy budgets the tendency is to expect performance and results at times forgetting that these are schoolboys who need to enjoy and be fit for life. It is not survival of the fittest but survival for the fittest that should be in the mind. These budgets include supplements for juniors who should be nurtured and developed using the natural strength and power they have and is in their system. Recently, parents of a player from a well known rugby school commented that their son brings supplements given by those who look after sports. They however are reluctant to let their children get used to these additions to the system and most go down the drain. Another problem I see is a question of being able to sustain these spending as the call for funds go up every year. The sport no doubt is demanding and the pressure is high. Overall the child needs sports to take him to the future and not be exposed to an inability to survive without the instants.
What is equally bad is when injured players are kept on the field thus aggravating further. A result would be the loss of a player for more parts of a season or for the rest of his rugby life. A closer look at the situation is warranted when you see and hear of that almost all schools have a trainer in their staff. With all that is thrown in terms of men and material the end result is far from issuing a whole product to society. With all that you take and you don’t perform the frustration leads to niggling as well as foul play. Watch out and arrest the trend.
I also saw schools failing in their attempts to kick at goal. An indication of a lack of place kickers is not only affecting the game at the school level. It is obvious that the inability will follow the players and have an impact in the clubs as well as the national team. This is as bad as the lack of solid front row forwards who can hold.
The next few weeks will have a few matches that will excite as the top teams in the groups will take on the each other. The tournament will see more competition when the top teams of each group will be regrouped and have to play each other. The fever is dampened in between with closures for different events and festivals. Yet it cannot be condemned as it will give the young boys a chance to breathe.
Meanwhile the SLRFU has fixed May 14 to have the Annual General Meeting after calling for fresh nominations. The AGM was previously fixed to be held on March 31 and was postponed following the new requirement announced by the Ministry of Sport.
According to sources of the powerful Western Province Rugby Football Union the incumbent office bearers have been denominated by a near 100% agreement. It is understood that 12 of the 13 registered clubs have proposed that the incumbent President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer continue to hold office. They stake holders have proposed as are in the front of rugby and know what is good for them and the game. The issue if any that will surface is how the Ministry will enforce the combined four year maximum that a person can serve in an administrative post. Whatever it be the next few weeks will have enough of rugby to be talked about on and off the field.
– Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Affiliated
Referees’ Educator