SLRFU and SLSRFA clash on sponsors
View(s):The proposal brought forward by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) to grant the sponsorship for the core tournament of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), the Schools League Rugby Tournament is a swindle complains the SLSRFA. The SLSRFA allege that at present they obtain around Rs 30 million from the sponsorships of the League and Knockout sponsors whereas the attractive offer as claimed by the SLRFU is a mere one third.
If the situation worsens schools might get back to basics by playing friendly encounters this season - File pic
A leading schools official said that it is attractive to the proposed sponsor who is also the sponsor for the SLRFU. The deal will also see that this will help the SLRFU because if the schools are not roped into the package, the rugby governing body may lose the club sponsorship. The meager package will also deny the game for lower division schools that are funded by SLSRFA sponsors Singer and Milo.
As a result uncertainty looms on the schools rugby season as a senior office bearer has threatened to get the school section dissolved or stop the assignment of referees for schools matches. However it is understood that the SLSRFA has been advised by a senior official of the Sports Ministry, according to the prevailing law the umpires and similar officials such as referees are independent to act on their own and cannot be directed by or under a governing body.
Sources of SLSRFA complain that the SLRFU is trying to make maximum use of the agreement reached with the Sports Ministry and the Education Ministry for the game to promoted and managed by the schools section and the main body. The SLSRFA claims that the intention of the understanding was that the game needs to be promoted among many schools and that the SLRFU will provide guidance on the technical aspects including the laws and skills. The SLRFU is expected to guide and not control the schools, officials claim.
The expenditure of SLSRFA has been covered through the sponsorship by Singer who handles the League competition and Milo who handle the Knockout tournament. The two companies spend around Rs 30 million out of which half is spent for tournaments and the rest to be distributed among individual schools. The proposed sponsorship by the sponsor of the SLRFU is around Rs 10 million which will see the death of rugby in the less affluent schools that are supported through the school league sponsor.
The cash-strapped SLRFU which is in the red, is proposing that they will take over the schools tournament and look after all matches, ground, doctor and referee expenses while the SLSRFA will be given Rs 2 million for its expenses. This they cry is a rip off and the reason behind is that the sponsors of the SLRFU will not fund them in 2015 unless they are also given promotional rights for the schools section.
The schools masters-in-charge question whether this move is a clear case of unfair practice that has to be looked into by the Consumer Affairs Authority. There is also speculation that the event of another fiasco, leading schools might opt to play friendly matches only which will deny the less privileged to play rugby.