Need of the hour to overcome the traditional mistake of the game
View(s):The club season though not started. A game was played between Havelock’s and CR&FC for the Havelock Centenary Cup and was won by CR. The first match between two leading clubs showed that teams are getting into shape for having a steady scrum, release at the tackle and avoiding foul play. Yet in a 60-minute game, I counted ten penalties at the tackle. This is despite the fact that players attempted to release the tackled player, release the ball and enter right.
I understand that one factor stood against us during the Junior Asian Sevens was the indiscipline at the breakdowns as well as in getting back 10-metres at penalties. These are areas we need to get right if we are to mark progress at least in the Asian Circuit. This is something you cannot leave in the hands of referees alone and take refuge by saying our referees are not strict in these areas. These issues are beyond that as it is only if coaches and referees understand each other and work towards policing these areas there will be improvement in the game when we play in Asian Tournaments.
These areas can be polished at the club and national level but the basic skill has to be imparted at school rugby. Recently I watched some matches of Under-18, Under-16, Under-13 and Under-12 level which are being currently played. I could see some progression in ensuring steady scrums as well as in release at the tackle. Yet I could not say that there is satisfaction in seeing better skills. In most junior games I see a lot of bodies hanging around a breakdown. It was most evident at Under-12 and Under-13 matches where I could see a lot if disorganised bodies fallen over and if not lying around.
Probably playing in a quarter of the ground did not give much room to run and being cramped may have contributed to bodies getting around a break down. This is where more thinking has to come in when organising junior games and merely not sticking to one tournament completed and upgrade the statistics. If it is a problem of funds that inhibits the schools section the governing body should talk in terms of using development funds. The question is when there is no Unions in place who do you talk with.
Is or will rugby be on the agenda of priorities in the positions of ministers that take office. People talk in terms of many development subjects being more important in the list and where will sport stand in the list. The issue should be addressed from the point of sports being a great leveler and the ability to instill discipline and character. Then it has an important role to play in the society that is been hopefully built on new thought.
The coaches should shed some thought to the important aspects that help the flow of the game. We need to have less thought on looking at the mistakes of referees and pointing out missing smaller mistakes as per the law that is: Rugby. What is important if the flow of the game, the skills that players display, the enjoyment of the game and improving skills that can make the player continue the game?
For the betterment of the game it is important that that the coaches be people who the player can look up to. How many have thought in terms of being a role model. This is not going to be achieved if you incessantly cry against the referee without teaching the boys the need to respect. Sometimes you are right sometimes the referee is right and you don’t know why. The more we are disciplined in or approach the better the player we produce. It is not about the effort you put in or the money that was spent it is about how wisely you used the knowledge and resources that matter.
A key pointer or hard look at the sportsman as a role model to the younger generation has been the emphasis of eliminating indiscipline players from the English rugby team. Key names have found themselves out of the team list because the conducts of some were considered to be negative in the role model scenario. Behavioral issues have not been ones limited to the playing area and have been on and off the field.
Meanwhile in Sri Lanka the community rugby crusade continues as HARFA plays the annual mini rugby tournament. AGoal too has organised what is termed the Rugby Rumble where former players of schools band themselves to display the skills of rugby of their time. More than the rugby skills this is an opportunity for past players to meet and socialise talking of their experiences on the field. The community aspect of rugby cannot be forgotten as it is another part of keeping rugby alive and also among players who have hung up the boots.
These need to be encouraged and not spoken of as private events as some in rugby like to think of. Anything done to promote the game must be appreciated and accepted and not be preachers who don’t do it but done have good word for those who do.
* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Accredited Referees’ Educator