Banned Josephian rugby player to make ‘public apology’; suspended from college
View(s):
Tharindu Maduranga (with ball) must be repenting for his action last week
Tharindu Maduranga, the St. Joseph’s College centre, was slapped with a ban of two years by the Disciplinary Committee of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) last Thursday, for assaulting referee Priyantha Gunaratne after the Singer Schools League match against Royal College at the Royal Complex. But by yesterday Nalaka Weerakkodi, the head Coach of St. Joseph’s, has acted promptly to iron matters out by assuring referee Gunaratne a ‘public apology’ for the sake of the game.
Along with the two year ban imposed by the Disciplinary Committee of the SLSRFA, headed by Ranjith Chandrasekara, St. Joseph’s College too has suspended the player, but the period of his suspension at school is yet to be determined.
“With the ban received from SLSRFA, Maduranga will be suspended from the school. But the time period is still undecided and the school authorities will make it clear in days to come. He is not a bad player, but unfortunately something bad took place from a school player, which is unacceptable. He has to face the consequences for his actions, I’m afraid,” Prashantha Ranaweera, the master-in-charge of St. Joseph’s rugby stated.
Along with Maduranga, his team mate and flyhalf Santush Algama was summoned for the inquiry, but was discharged with a warning. The two Josephians were cited for allegedly manhandling referee Priyantha Gunaratne in the report submitted by Anil Jayasinghe, the Referees’ Manager of Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society, following the game at Royal Complex.
The Disciplinary Committee of SLSRFA made the decisions taking World Rugby sanctions related to Regulation 17 – Foul Play, into consideration. The World Rugby Regulation 17; 9.28 states ‘A player must not physically abuse Match Officials’ range from Low-end: 24 weeks, Mid-range: 48 weeks, Top-end: 96+ weeks and Max: Life.
The reason behind Maduranga’s harsh move to attack referee Gunaratne is unclear, but it is a known fact that the two individuals crossed path a week before the Royal-St. Joseph’s game, at Bambalapitiya in the match between St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s. Josephians were leading 21-20 in the final minute of the game, and Maduranga was penalised for ‘not releasing the ball’ by referee Gunaratne in their own 22. This resulted in St. Peter’s taking an easy penalty to win the game 23-21.
Gunaratne, who is a respected referee in the local rugby circuit, told the Sunday Times that he never intended to bring the matter up, as he felt he was ‘pushed’ down to the ground after the Royal-St. Joseph’s game. But following the citing report submitted by Referees’ Manager Anil Jayasinghe, Gunaratne said that it was a correct move after all.
“I’m a senior referee and the incident is not good for the game as well as the other referees. For such a thing to occur in a school rugby game, by a player, is not acceptable. I feel bad for the boy (Maduranga), whatever said and done they are school players. But they should learn to respect,” Gunaratne stated.
The day following the incident, St. Joseph’s College rugby Head Coach, Weerakkodi had called referee Gunaratne that he would assure Maduranga makes a public apology.
“I got a call from Nalaka (Weerakkodi) and he wanted to bring the player to my home in Kandy. I thought it was a good move, but I also thought since the player is young an apology should be made in public. Nalaka said he will come with the player to meet me during the Mercantile Rugby 7s, which will take place at the CR&FC ground from July 19 to 21.”
The image that is being circulated in the social media, taken at the moment when referee Gunaratne being grounded
Weerakkodi, a well known rugby personality, who turned out for Kandy Sports Club and Sri Lanka after an illustrious school rugby career at Kingswood College, told the Sunday Times that the game should be the ultimate winner. Weerakkodi went on to explain that he looked into the matter and the whole incident that followed in an impartial manner, so that the general public would not get a negative impact of rugby as a sport played by hooligans.
“Maduranga has done it, I was a bit away from where the incident took place, but I gathered all information and did all possible things to correct matters. I have been in the field for over 20 years as a player and member of coaching staffs. I have seen players make harsh moves, but if the player has committed a mistake, there should be punishment. He (Maduranga) has done it, he faced the inquiry and bowed down to the decision. Whatever school you are from, what happened is not acceptable. We must nip it by the bud,” he said.
“On the other hand referees are human too. It’s good for the game if we can sort matters out in a way that the game will be respected by the general public. It’s not about punishing a player for his wrongdoing, but also about sending the correct message out to the society that rugby is a sport played by men with dignity and honour. I feel this is the best possible move and way-forward. This could be the healthiest remedy for the game overall. There shouldn’t be any ill feelings between individuals or any parties at the end of the day. I called Priyantha (Gunaratne) personally and made sure the player will make a public apology, which he agreed to. The school has taken its decision to suspend the player with the two-year ban by SLSRFA. But he can appeal,” Weerakkodi added.
However Maduranga will have 14 days to appeal from the date of the decision. Referee Gunaratne went on to say that if Maduranga decides to appeal, he will look into the matter from a humanitarian angle, but yet he stated that ‘one must take the rap for his own deeds’ good or bad. Maduranga, who is in his final year as a schoolboy rugby player, will miss the remaining games of St. Joseph’s College during the ongoing Milo Presidents Trophy Knockout Championship and the Schools Rugby 7s, and will have to wait until mid 2021 to try out his luck in the club rugby circuit.