Asiad --to be or not to be

Hong Kong will host the Asian Rugby World Cup round three qualifying matches that has been rescheduled. These matches will be played on a round robin basis from the 18th to the 25th of November. The Hong Kong team will be at advantage as they are on home soil. Is this what HK wanted and if so they have got it? What has followed the decision to shift the holding of the tournament as planned in Sri Lanka has put the efforts of the SLRFU to some sort of disarray.

The question that hangs rather precariously on the heads of the Lankans is that uncertainty “can we host the postponed ASIAD in January 2007” as envisaged. If the preparations go on as planned, will the countries come to Sri Lanka as they were reluctant earlier? Now that the heat of the rugby world cup is taken away, can the tournament generate the same amount of interest is another question. The other issue is the possibility of the sequence of holding one of the oldest tournaments being broken. Japan and may be Hong Kong will want to come provided the situation in their opinion improves. This is a big if.

While all the ‘ifs and buts’ are being debated Sri Lanka is preparing for the sevens tournament at the Asian Games to be held in December. They are also in preparation for the Junior Asiad that will be played in Taiwan in December. While Sri Lanka plans for its future and to a higher slot in the Asian rugby circuit it is important that they take the junior games too seriously.

It is very much encouraging to note that the SLRFU has recognized the achievements in appointing the junior national coach. Sanath Martis who has been responsible for guiding St Peters to be undisputed champions in the 2006 season has been selected as the junior national coach. His deputy will be Viper Gunaratne jr. who coached St Anthony’s College Kandy to be a leading rugby playing school this year.

Martis who has been assistant coach to the junior team twice previously brings with him a wealth of experience that will be helpful. Viper too will be able to contribute to the training with his experience as a coach a well as a past national player who has put in many tears of service.

In molding of the future of the younger rugby players the coaches have an important role to play as they are the mentors who the schoolboy players look up to. Given the present scenario of school boy players having been at the receiving end of red cards in the recent past the coach will have a major role in directing its players to play the game in the correct spirit. It is the coach who can set a better standard to its protégés by example.

Having coached schools to success without being accused of unfair play Martis and Gunaratne have a lot to be proud of and have the responsibility to take those in their charge to better heights.

News that is the talking point in the international scene and specifically in England is what is now called “Noon’s non try”. In the 4th minute of play in Twickenham when England played New Zealand the television official was called to give advice. The TMO advised that there was no try. It is now debated that this decision was wrong. The Guardian newspaper reported on Monday (06th) that the IRB referee manager was of the view that it was a try and the confusion a as arose as a result of the wrong question being asked. The continuous babbling of the commentator the question asked by the Referee was not clear. The referee then repeats and there is inaudible as the commentators voice was in between the referee was from France and the TMO also was from France. The conversation was in French. The questions translated now point to a situation of the wrong question being asked, When the question as recommended should have been “is there any reason why I should not award a try” .In such a situation --the balance of probability would be considered and the try awarded. May be it was a case of inexperience as France uses in goal touch judges and not TV officials.

When mistakes happen at this level and with technology available it is a something to think about when people rush to condemn referees back home who have very little support from video replays and or communication devices. To implement such technology requires experience and expertise.