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Lankan rugby must emulate Thai’s
By Bernie Wijesekera
The future of Sri Lanka rugby seems to be with the services and the Police SC considering the present attitude of club players, said Ravi Wijenathan, the former Sri Lanka prop forward in an interview with The Sunday Times.

He is a former Royalist, who played with much success for the Reid Av. School from 1980-'81 under Sujantha Kumar and Sujeewa Cooray. Later Ravi turned out for CH&FC from 1981-'90 and led the side in 1987. Ravi played for the national team from 1985-'86 and possesses a storehouse of knowledge. He was also a national selector from 1999-'02 with Tikiri Marambe as Chairman.

Ravi elaborating on the question pertaining to the future of Sri Lanka rugby said that the Lankans should take a cue from Thailand. The Thais lost the Test series played here. But one year later came back with vengeance in the Asiad, held in Bangkok and thrashed us by over 80 points.

Q. What is the reason?
A. The Thai team's majority of players are from the Serivces and the Police. They are disciplined. Their loyalty and it's a pride for them to play for the country.
Trained hard in preparation for the contest for a continuous period of one year. The local players especially the players from the Services and the Police, too will take pride for donning the National jersey. They are a disciplined lot and their robust approach and the will to win, with a similar coaching structure like the Thais to meet to the demands of the Sri Lanka international rugby calendar.

Q. Lack of coaches is a big drawback to the development and promotion of the game.
A. Yes. Even the clubs find it difficult to get knowledgeable coaches.

Q. Any of the present day coaches, whom do you think in your opinion the best in the business at present.
A. A coach is a person who makes ordinary players to be capable players by teaching the skills and motivating them to perform to the best of their ability. He could also possess the skills to ascertain strength and the weakness of his team and the opponents and plan strategy to come out victorious. At present Chandana P. Abeygunawardena, Nimal Lewke and Laga have these abilities.

Q. What do you suggest to improve the coaching structure?
A. We should benchmark some of the successful sporting nations and have a coaching policy from junior to national level. Developing basic rugby skills of players will be a common method to all.

Q: For example, a tight-head prop will be taught how to scrummage, body possession, feet possession, shoving and locking as basics. While coaches are taught in higher coaching level to think strategically to map out defensive and offensive play. Here the coach's ability counts.
A. The main problem that rugby seems to revolve around a combined unit-comprising rugby enthusiastics, who are financially sound, couple of sponsors, combined with dedicated players will succeed.

When either one of the combinations is weak it starts crumbling. A good example, Kandy Youth CC, Petersons SC, and Kurunegala RFC. Even the existing clubs find it difficult to raise funds to indulge in competitive rugby. I feel that the economic conditions in the country improves and the entrepreneurs are successful, then there will be more support for sports in general.

Q. Why is that school rugby seems to attract more crowds?
A. What the spectator expects? They expect experience in the game. School teams are providing that excitement. Playing the game at a faster pace, combined with crowd support, with school loyalty seems the driving force.
This combination is lacking in club rugby in Colombo. But in Kandy the scenerio is different.

Q. What is your opinion about the performance of the national U-19 teams, which are exposed to international competition every year.
A. The performances have not been consistent except for the performance of the U-19 team which became third in the Asiad held in Colombo, and qualified to play in the Junior World Cup in Chile, a couple of years ago. Only a handful has been picked from this team, at National level.

I feel that a proper Under-19 Provincial tournament should be held to select an U-19 national team. I can recall a couple of years ago, when Jeewa Galagamuwa was selected to lead an U-19 team a similar provincial tournament was held. Two players from the Galle District team were picked to play. But where are they? Lost to the game for reasons best known to them. There should be proper planning and guidance.

Q. Do you think that the presence of foreign players in local tournaments will have any impact to uplift the standard of the game among the locals.
A. Yes and no. Yes, for defensive play has improved. The local players have to counter strength against strength. Kandy SC trio, led by Radhika Hettiarachchi, Sajith Mallikarachchi and dazzling winger Indrajit Bandaranayake have played exceptionally well against tough international opposition. At the same time no because it dilutes attacking potential of local players.

Since it seems even the local players (barring some players) are, too dependent on the attacking potential of foreign players to win the matches, Wijenathan observed.

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