French fries kill more people than bullets while Lankan rugby is killing itself
View(s):“I ran and ran and ran every day, and I acquired this sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, ever give up, and no matter what else happened”. Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely at 4.5 pounds, the 20th of 22 siblings from two marriages. Rudolph contracted infantile paralysis caused by the polio virus at age four. She recovered, but wore a brace on her left leg and foot until she was nine. She was required to wear an orthopedic shoe for support of her foot for another two years. Wilma went on to become the fastest woman in the 1960s and was the first American woman to win three Olympic Gold medals. With a lot of hard work she came to be a top athlete and did many things money could not buy. 
In the recent past the rugby elephants did think that money can help two more teams to the top league and probably believed that with money you could also buy players and perform. In getting a place teams had a process to follow such as playing in Division ‘B’ and being elevated on performance. Police, Air Force, and Navy are teams that climbed through a system as I recollect.
It was not so for Upcountry Lions who boasted of money and the patronage of power and backing of the then Minister of Sports. Hambantota Sharks was another team that catapulted to the top probably because they were able to show that they can sustain themselves and the players with the backing of the powers.
The first to fall from the high pedestal were the Upcountry Lions. Now in mid-season it has been announced that the Hambantota Sharks will not be seen on the rugby fields any longer. I remembered Robert Kiyosaki of ‘Rich kid smart kid’ fame who said that French Fries kill more people than guns and sharks, yet nobody is afraid of French Fries. Lions and Sharks became the French Fries that crumbled when the warmth was taken off. It turned out that the Upcountry Lions pulled out at the beginning the season while the Sharks have called it a day during the second round. Unfortunately there will be neither Lions prowling nor Sharks circling the paddocks hoping that they may see a trace of blood to register a win. What happened is now history as they poached players from top clubs and assembled a collection and called themselves a Division ‘A’ club. This upset the equilibrium of the money demand of players and what clubs could afford.
The thinking was that money will help players and in turn the game will be lifted. What has happened today is that the game structure has been battered and the second round of this year becoming a sham. It is in this midst that one sees a club with over 125 years of rugby – CH&FC not taking part in the last two weeks and some still hope that they will play. The players who played for Upcountry Lions had to seek solace in other clubs when they stopped playing. The same scenario is now present as the Sharks players too have to be released to find a new abode. This obviously can lead to friction in other clubs where the players seek refuge.
Money they say is the root of all evil and here is a clear example of short sightedapproach of thinking that money can keep a team on board for the rest of time. I could not stop but write the following unquoted extract which I read. “I am the girl who prefers one rose instead of a dozen. I’m the girl who wouldn’t make you wait on her hand and foot, but would do anything to make you happy. I’m the girl who would enjoy having a movie night rather than going to some fancy restaurant. I’m the girl who would rather stay up all night sharing secrets than go out and getting drunk. I’m the girl who’d give the world to see you smile.” We did not see rugby smile as we wanted to boast of numbers.
‘The referee missed the handling of the ball in the tackle a number of times’ was a comment I heard as was walking out of the ground. This was heard by me again at a few matches and was repeated by others who are in charge of teams. I was wondering how I was missing this and decided to invoke the spirit of my grandmother who was a keen rugby fan and is now watching what is happening. Her immediate reaction was to ask me “are you trying to teach your grandma to suck eggs”. Upset at her being rude I meekly submitted to her, “I am asking because I do not know and they keep telling me this. She explained the law and educated me that the handling is when there is a ruck formed and if this happens after a tackle then the law does apply. I was tempted t o ask for a few more clarifications but decided against as she reminded me that the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union is looking for a ‘Referee Manager’. She told me that there are many who are suitable when you hear or read the comments that are published. Hopefully some of them will apply and one that is selected will teach the referees how they should get about their job. If not at least tell them to referee the way that the others see or want. Then all will be happy.
Grandma also said I see lots of changes all over and asked me about the effect on rugby. I told her that we have been playing this game for over 100 years and there is proud heritage that has been in existence and rugby will survive. I could not understand the tone of her voice, as she faded away and am still wondering was a laugh one of joy or just sarcastic.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB