Lankans sevens rugby has a lot of potential says IRB President
Sri Lanka is an important country for Rugby was the view of the International Rugby Board (IRB) President Bernard Lapasset who spoke to the local pressmen during his two-day visit of Sri Lanka at Hotel Galadari in Colombo yesterday.
Lapasset expressed his content on the development of the game in the Asian region adding that the traditional version of 15′s rugby has gained ground around the globe while its Sevens version has been recognised as an Olympic Sport.
“Being recognised as an Olympic Sport poses an obligation to promote the men’s game as well as the women’s game,” Lapasset stressed while adding: “the time is right to renew the traditional spirit of the game”.
He said that the game should have the schools as the incubator. “Rugby is not another sport but is an education and should be viewed as a developer of a future nation.”
IRB President Bernard Lapasset speaks to the local mediamen. - Pic by Amila Gamage
He was happy that he met the President of the country who was an avid rugby fan and was able to discuss with him the importance of rugby as an educator. He underlined the importance of managing leadership in the schools to run a good format.
“There was a need to educate, monitor and impose sanctions to keep the discipline in the game and also avoid gaming issues that has plagued some sports.”
He stressed that the match official (referee) is a key developer of the game.
“If there were problems they should be put behind, as the game cannot go on without a referee, whoever that happens to be. The laws of the game are complicated and the role of the official is a difficult one. He is in the best position to improve and to facilitate the game,” he told reporters while answering their queries.
Lapasset was of the view that the need to bridge the gap which exists in the understanding and interpretation by referees and among players’ coaches and fans will help the game prosper.
“The players and others have a major role in understanding that with no referee, good or bad there is no game. Rugby is a complex contact sport and each union need to have a secure process to protect referees. There is a gap universally as players and coaches get professional and are involved daily whereas referees are part time amateurs. This has to change,” the IRB President highlighted.
Having taken time to answer the question on referees posed by the Sunday Times he went on to say that he saw Sri Lanka playing in Singapore at the Asian Sevens and believed that the Sri Lanka Sevens had a lot of potential. He went on to say that he hopes to see Sri Lanka at the Rio De Janeiro Olympics.
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