Nothing to boast about

The year 2011 was nothing to boast about when it comes to Rugby Football in Sri Lanka. Though the country has been involved in the oval shaped ball game for more than 100 years players suffered heavily. The question asked by knowledgeable rugby lovers was who was at fault - the players or was it a blunder by the administration of the Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). SLRFU failed to hold the AGM (Annual General Meeting) on time. This made the main world body IRB (International Rugby Board) to cancel the IRB membership. They gave them 30 days to hold the AGM. The SLRFU made it at the last moment by holding the AGM on the very last day.

Action from the Asian Five Nations Tournament

The year 2011 was very important as Sri Lanka participated in the Asian Five Nations Top division for the first time. SLRFU appointed New Zealander Ellis Meachen as its head coach for the Asian Five Nations Tournament which included top sides in Asia such as Japan, Kazakhstan, UAE, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. Ellis came with the reputation of having coached countries such as Tonga and Romania. However the preparation was disappointing and Sri Lanka crashed to division I in the end. Sri Lanka failed to get the team together for at least two month’s before the kick while the other four countries in this division were in training for nearly 6 months.

There were no shocks and surprises as Sri Lanka were beaten in 3 games and drew with UAE who was making their debut in the big league. The game against UAE ended in a 13 all draw where a questionable referee’s decision went against the hosts. Hong Kong beat Sri Lanka 48-3 and Japan in a late second half blast thrashed Sri Lanka 90-13. Playing the physical Kazakhstan away in Amati Sri Lanka were beaten in the end after late second half burst by bigger made Russian colony who won 34-18. After a hard fought win last year’s Asian Five Nations Tournament to gain promotion to top division under the watchful eyes of Kandy SC coach Johan Taylor was in vain. All the hard work put in went wasted. With this demotion Sri Lanka will play along with Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Philippines in the Division I tournament in 2012. Kandy SC’s Sean Wijesinghe though appointed as skipper of the senior team could not take part in most of the games due to his knee being damaged.

Sri Lanka Sevens players preferred to stay out of national practices for the Shanghai Sevens. This left the SLRFU to send a development squad under Dinusha Chathuranga of Navy SC. Sri Lanka ended on 11th position out of 12 teams.

Only success on the shorter version of the game was at the Bowl Championship in HSBC Asian Borneo sevens. Under the dynamic leadership of Yoshitha Rajapaksa Sri Lanka came home with success. This success had a great amount of significance because they were able to win a sevens title with a new look outfit as some of the star players were not available due to the commitments with their respective clubs. Sri Lanka performed exceptionally to beat Kazakhstan 26-17 in the final.

In the school segment Royal College Colombo under Shehan Pathirane won the School under 20 League with Isipathana and Trinity securing second and third positions respectively. Trinity College going as firm favourates for Bradby Shield had a shocking defeat in the hands of Royal in the first leg in Kandy. They were beaten 33-20. But the “Lions” came back hard on Royal in Colombo to win 40-5 in the second leg and took back the Bradby Shield as well. Trinity College under Murad Ramzeen who were ranked as one of the top favourates to win the League, missed out after a shaky start in the League. But they lived up to their crazy Kandy supporter’s expectation when they beat Isipathana in the Milo knock out-final.

Sri Lanka Youth team suffered some humiliating defeats at Asian Championships (Junior Rugby Asiad) in Hong Kong but had the satisfaction of winning the Bowl Championship at the Youth Commonwealth Games (Under 18) held in Isle of Man where they defeated Trinidad and Tobago.
Tharunyata Hetak a youth movement initiated by former Thomian, Navy SC and Sri Lankan player Namal Rajapaksa hosted the Carlton Super Sevens for the second year. This year’s tournament was on the IPL (Indian Premier League) format where two legs were on the card with one in Kandy and the other in Colombo. Southern Sharks led by Amjad Buksh won the first leg and Central Kings led by Fazil Marija won the second one. The tournament was very well organized though the space was not sufficient at Royal Complex to host a mega International event of this nature.

Three national players were tested positive for drugs at the HSBC Asian Five Nations Tournament and were given one year ban by the IRB. Eranga Swarnatilleke, Saliya Kumara and Keith Gurusinghe were the players who tested positive. They will be out of action until March this year.