TMO is it good?
View(s):
Shyama Cooray (Head of Sports, Horizon International College, Malabe, former secretary of Sri Lanka Netball federation 2013/2104, Vice president Western Province Netball Association)
“I have played netball in school and club level. But I am interested in all sports. When I have time, I go to see matches or watch from the TV. When I came to know a third umpire (TMO) has been introduced to rugby football, I feel that is a good move. Hope you can remember, in recently concluded T20 world cup-final in India, the West Indian batsman Marlon Samuel got a good decision, when our own renowned umpire Kumar Darmasena directed the TMO to give a decision, on the catch taken by England wicket keeper. If not for that move, West Indies may have lost the finals! In the game of rugby too, if the game looks like heading for a tie, one wrong decision by a referee would end up by spectators involving in a brawl. To avoid such situation, TMO’s involvement is very important! I expect, TMO should be implemented, in football as well following the footsteps of cricket and rugby”.
Talavou Alailima (Former rugby player for S.Thomas’ and Havelocks SC in 1988/89, represented Sri Lanka in athletics and national record holder for shot putt, owner of Power World gyms)
“This is a very good decision. Any team come to play their opponent, expecting a good game and a good decisions by the referee. If a Referee makes a mistake and give wrong decisions, the out come of the game will not give the desired result. By implementing TMO, we can expect fair decisions. On the whole, it will reduce the errors and allow the best team on that day to win. A team participate in a tournament, by spending lot of money on a coach and lot of sacrifice. So especially in a knock out tournament, one mistake by a referee, can make the game a disappointing one. Though implementing TMO is costly, it is need of the hour. I think by introducing TMO, to next round of cup championship, and club rugby will allow the spectators to witness a good enthralling game and avoid unnecessary conflicts. And this will not allow, spectators to do a post mortem at the end of game.
Janith Thilakaratne (Senior Software Engineer, Content Management and Solutions Pvt .Ltd)
“The Referee is a human being after all and has limitations.TMO should be there at least in the crucial encounters like the league or knock-out finals. An incident which still echoes in my mind is of my friend, who was the flanker then,claiming that he scored a try but the referee blowing it as ‘held up’. That prevented the team becoming the unbeaten league champs! Which would have being a memorable achievement for a school boy rugby team. And a game like the Bradby, is literally draining the energy out of the referees due to the massive crowd, and the magnitude of the occasion. So a single wrong decision, would ruin the life of a set of youth, for life. But with TMO, you always get that second chance! If possible, TMO should be implemented in all the school and club games in the top division, sooner the better. It will not only provide correct decisions, but it would preserve the sanity of the game. There will be less or no arguments on the final outcome.
And surely it would uplift the quality of the game.”
Inthikab Thaam (Former junior coach of St.Joseph’s and Wesley. Presently a coach at Hisham Abdeen rugby football academy-HARFA)
” A good move indeed. But the TMO, also should be impartial. Also I do like to highlight that present set of referees officiating in schools top rugby division and club rugby is incompetent. The SLRFU should touch on this issue as well. They should consider in getting down foreign referees from UAE and Hong kong for all important school and club rugby matches. The implementation of TMO, will definitely pay off for the hard work done by the school boys”.
Preethikumar Fernando (Rugby coach) 
” I am for the TMO introduction.School rugby in the recent past have become very competent.We have witnessed close games. Some decisions given by the referees are not fair.We have witnessed how underdogs coming to the game, due to bad decisions made by the referee, at the end beating the favourites. To work out TMO implementation, you need six cameras installed in the ground. But I don’t know how practical it will be, to install six cameras in each ground. It looks costly, but for the improvement of game, this has to be put into action fast by the SLRFU for all school and club rugby”.
.P.P. Abeygunawardena (Former Royal, CR and FC and Sri Lanka rugby player.Coached Royal and Kandy SC)
” This is a good move. I endorse it. Our rugby can take a cue from international games, how TMO plays a major role, in championships such as, the rugby championship, six nations, super 14 and Heineken cup. This should have been implemented in Sri Lankan schools and club rugby some time back”.
Dinesh Kumar
(Former rugby player Isipathana College 1999-2001, played for CR and FC, CH and FC, Kandy SC and Sri Lanka.)
” I am wholeheartedly for the TMO introduction. Expect it will be available for second round matches,where important games are to be played.”
Tavita Tulagese or ‘Laga’ as fondly known in local rugby fraternity.( Played for CR and FC and Kandy SC.coached CR and FC and presently the coach of Havelocks SC and S.Thomas’.)
“If Sri Lankan rugby need to move forward, and on par with the modern game, the introduction of TMO in school and club rugby is a must.This definitely avoid unnecessary issues involving the referee”.
Tuan Jayah (Parent)
” I am for the TMO in rugby football. This will avoid unnecessary issues.We have seen in the recent past, how many referees are manhandled by spectators after the game. Referee may think he has made the right call, but still spectators think he has favoured one team. Hence the referee should direct the TMO to give a decision, if he feels doubt on it. I applaud the decision taken by referees society and hope it will implement in second round matches for the cup championship”.
