Schools Rugby to promote “Respect the game we love”
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Rugby is not all about winning and losing
“Respect the game we love”, was a theme promoted during the ‘Milo Knockout’ tournament. The importance of that message is not to deny children the taste of the child’s world. They are children who are denied that innocent world, by adults. Children take to sport in Sri Lanka, while fitting into a regimented schedule forced by parents. Starting from up in the morning and off to school, to tuition, additional classes, scholarships examinations etc. Children who take to a sport do so because they want to be involved. Rugby is a popular sport that draws attention and attracts children, parents, as well as old boys. Children are bound by their School code and understand the consequences of being delinquent, but embrace the opportunity of enjoying a sport. It is the adults, meaning parents as well as old boys, who upset the child at work.
The President of the Schools Section, Ranjith Chandrasekera said they are working to instill a sense of respect to the game they love. They will work with the sponsors to spread the idea of respecting the game we love. There will be more to it in the next School season. He sees an opportunity to use the popular sport to cultivate social responsibility. Social responsibility through Schoolboy Rugby will form part of their thrust to make the game more attractive. The concept of being environment conscious, as was displayed by the junior Petes recently, will be a practice worthwhile pursuing.
He said that, to make a great contribution to society, they have to develop the Schools’ Masters-in-Charge (MIC). They have started in this aspect with a programme to get the MiCs to do the online Rugby tests and follow up doing the Coaching Level I, as well as Match Officiating Level I. This has to be followed up by having a programme to develop the skills of the MICs who act as Match Commissioners.
He said they would be working with Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) to get the necessary help and guidance to conduct the necessary education process to be put in place. He opined that, to take the game forward, they have to work together and not think as two arms. He said the SLR has recognised the Schools and a post of Vice President has been created. He said there is no need for the SLR to ‘bowl outside the stumps’, and he has to change that accordingly. He is talking to the new Council to work and bat and bowl as one team in the same match, with Rugby as the core aim.
Speaking to new SLR President Lasitha Gunaratne, he confirmed that SLR is in a dialogue with the schools and are “delighted” to help as much as they could, in their ambitious project to develop the skills not only of the MICs, but School Rugby as a whole. He also was of the view that Schools have been included on a high pedestal in the SLR. He was also of the view that, if the Schools accommodate a nominee or representative of the SLR in the Schools Rugby Committee, they could talk and work with a mutual understanding.
This, he believes, will help School Rugby and also the game as a whole. He said they have greater representation than before of the Schools at the SLR. He said the Union has put in place a Technical Committee to help and advise the Council, through which, the dialogue with the Schools will improve.
The issue of Social Responsibility through Schools is a good idea. A laudable suggestion. But who is going to take the bull by the horn. He cited a case of a Club finding it difficult to name a captain, as they are not sure to whom he will give a commitment. He said that, during the recent Mercantile 7s, there were players who, only a few weeks before, were playing in a School tournament. Did they serve a minimum time, which Mercantile Rugby used to insist on and had to produce EPF registration, if needed to prove. This is a responsibility of the corporate sector to abide by the rules. Even if there were no rules, there are ethical considerations a corporate has to consider. That is the modern world of business. Let the kids show how and when they are innocent, but easily corrupted, and who is responsible?
There was a recent case when SLR lodged applications to obtain a visa for a player to go to Paris. The application was lodged and the visa office had checked with the employee within 3 days. He had switched jobs and obviously, the visa application was turned down. The SLR President confirmed there was an issue. Delving further, the Sunday Times notes that the player represented the new Company at the Mercantile 7s.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, Coach and an Accredited Referees’ Evaluator IRB