School rugby takes a plunge long before the first whistle is blown

Sports

By Harry Jayachandra

Controversy had raised its head again even before the first whistle is blown in schools rugby. St. Anthony’s Kandy’s Rugby Football Club has sent a letter to the President of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) alleging a wrong interpretation of the tournament rules. The letter was sent on February 5 and the school is yet to receive a reply.
Excerpts from the letter state;

In terms of the recent decision of the SLSRFA in conducting the Schools League Season 2009, St. Anthony's College, Kandy (SACK) has been named as one of the teams taking part in Group 1-Segment 2. In terms of the SLSRFA Tournament Rules 2008, the last placed 3 teams of Group 1 - Segment 1 would be demoted to Group 1 - Segment 2 in the following year namely, 2009.

SACK took part in the league season 2008 in Group 1 - Segment 1 and there were 9 teams altogether and SACK was placed 7th in terms of the rankings at the end of the season.

In terms of the Tournament Rules 2008, if any school fails to adhere to the said Tournament Rules 2008, it would result in that particular school's result/performance not being taken into consideration for the 2008 League. During the season 2008, Isipathana College Colombo had fielded an ineligible player in the match against Dharmaraja Collge, Kandy and Dharmaraja College, Kandy had protested against the inclusion of the said player in the Isipathana College team.

The SLSRFA went into the matter, had an inquiry and found out that the said player was not eligible to play for Isipathana College. Accordingly, after the said decision, Isipathana College though it won the match against Dharmaraja College had forfeited the match and given the 4 points to Dharmaraja College.

In terms of the Tournament Rules 2008, Isipathana College has violated the Tournament Rules which results in the performance and the results of Isipathana College not being taken into consideration for the 2008 League Season. Accordingly, since the results and performance of Isipathana College not being taken into consideration, Isipathana College should have been ranked at the bottom of the 2008 rankings namely, the 9th position. Therefore the teams that should have been demoted to Group 1 - Segment 2 for the 2009 Season should have been Dharmaraja College, Vidyartha College and Isipathana College.
President of the SLSRFA K. A. D. Punyadasa speaking to The Sunday Times said; “Even though I am also the Principal of Isipatana, I instructed the Committee concerned to conduct an independent inquiry. Had their decision been to demote Isipatana, I would have abided by their ruling. That was not the case. They meted out the punishment that they saw fit.”

He added; “The question of demoting Isipatana has not even come up for discussion. Prior to the fixture list being drawn up, all the rules for this year’s tournament were discussed. And it was only at the eleventh hour that St. Anthony’s raised an objection as this year at the end of the league only the bottom team will be demoted and the top team of Segment 2 – promoted. And we also decided that we would only entertain complaints from the Principal and Master In Charge of any given school.

Let me emphasize the fact that had the Committee that inquired into the incident found that Isipatana should have been, then that is what would have been done.” “Incidentally I am under pressure from both the parents of the boy and other parties because of the disciplinary action I took,” said Punyadasa in conclusion.

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