Lankan referees tie up with Wekadapola to follow London courses online
A group of Sri Lanka rugby referees eager to upgrade their knowledge during the hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic have decided to follow online courses conducted by the London Society of Rugby Football Union Referees (LSRFUR).
It was made possible by the Sri Lankan member of LSRFUR Bandara Wekadapola who has taken it upon himself the task of educating referees here despite earning the ire of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) who have requested their members not to associate themselves with the former Kingswood and Police backrow forward.
A member of the London Society’s Referees’ Advisor panel since 2016, Wekadapola has voluntarily helped many referees with his expert analytical reports of their matches and more significantly linked them up with the programmes happening in London. For instance when England Rugby conducted sessions with the London Society on key topics such as ‘Refereeing the Tackle’ and ‘Refereeing Advantage’ last month, Wekadapola went to great lengths to invite those interested to follow it via video and explain it in Sinhala for their benefit. For the first of a series of online courses to be conducted by LSRFUR held on Wednesday, thanks to Wekadapola at least 10 Sri Lankans including some senior referees were given permission to register for it while he gave inputs in the vernacular for more clarity.
“Wekadapola has helped me a lot. He even sacrificed his family time to give me advice speaking with me for hours. I have to appreciate his sacrifice and dedication. He may have not refereed in Sri Lanka. But I feel proud as a Sri Lankan that he is in a top position in the London Society,” said a leading referee mentored by Wekadapola who began as Level 10 in London in 2007 before gaining promotion to Level 7 in the 2013-14 season.
Richmond-based Wekadapola humbly recalled how he was welcomed to the London Society by international referee Wayne Barnes who began his refereeing career from London’s West region and still regularly attends the monthly meetings of LSRFUR.
“I did not know anybody when I attended their first meeting in 2007. I was nervous and did not even look around. When they called me as the new referee from Sri Lanka Bandara, I just stood up for two seconds. Next to me somebody gave me his hand. He said welcome to the London Society. I didn’t see his face. But when I looked from the corner of my eyes, I recalled seeing his face on TV somewhere. Then I turned to see it was World Cup referee Wayne Barnes next to me. See how simple these people are. He was really encouraging me and answered every questioned I asked him later on,” said Wekadapola who in turn was keen to help his compatriots in whatever way possible.
However, his overtures were not encouraged by the Sri Lankan Society though he brought two officials from London to conduct a two-week seminar in 2017.
“I visited Sri Lanka with Ed Turnill (RFU Referee Development Officer) and Steve Biles (Regional Manager Referee Coach/Advisor – London Society) for a two-week Referee Training programme. We did excellent work during the two weeks. The boys are still talking about,” said Wekadapola who acknowledged they were not World Rugby (WR) accredited coaches.
“WR describes who need to take WR accreditation clearly. Countries who receive World Rugby funds must follow the WR courses and need their qualifications. The top 10 richest rugby nations are not receiving WR funds. WR clearly mentions courses of Top 10 unions are equivalent to WR qualifications. So we must follow RFU accredited institution courses. The London Society is a RFU accredited institution. Turnill was a RFU Referee Development Officer that time. He is well reputed Referee coach in the UK and refereed in England’s second tier,” explained Wekadapola who like prophets are not recognised in their own country.
“When Bandara first called me from England after a match, he asked me whether he could share his knowledge. I replied why not. He said you managed according to your knowledge but there were lot of shortcomings. His analysis was amazing and very professional,” said one of Wekadapola’s disciples speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals by the Lankan society.
“It is sad that our society has misunderstandings with Wekadapola. We don’t want to give respect to our people though he (Wekadapola) always respects senior referees. We should be happy to have a Sri Lankan in the London Society. Whether it is Wekadapola or anyone, we must take what is good for our referees. Wekadapola is a good teacher. Sometimes he may be more knowledgeable. There is a saying ‘never stop learning until you go to the grave’,” he said.
He was of the opinion that there was big gulf between referees and coaches and never the twain shall meet by going on different paths.
“Here we are confined to a box closeted to a frame. Our knowledge is limited. To develop rugby in Sri Lanka, referees can’t go on one path and coaches on another path. We have to see how to improve relationships with coaches and referees. From my experience as a coach and referee, I feel there is big gap between referees and coaches. We have to close that gap. If we educate coaches and players on what a referee expects from players, then there will be less problems,” he said.
However, there is more discussion unlike in the past, he added. “Before the start of a club or school season, we have a discussion. Earlier we meet the club or school coach only at a pre-match briefing. Now it has changed gradually. We explain what we look at in players. How we implement the law. In the recent past it is happening, which is very good,” he said.
Building relationships was vital instead of scolding the referee after the match, he said.
“Even World Cup matches referees make mistakes which have changed decisions. It happens around the world. Whether it is deliberate or by mistake is the issue. Looking back at the history of referees 20 years ago in Sri Lanka, there was no social media, no live broadcast except may be the Bradby. Now A division and B division schools matches are telecast live. Social media has become powerful. People discuss because evidence is there. No one can cheat. Earlier there was no evidence. Now there are so many cameras,” he pointed out.