School sports to resume but Bradby Shield doubtful
Royal and Trinity may have to skip the Bradby this year - File pic
Despite uncertainty prevailing on the possibility of playing this year’s edition of the ‘Bradby Shield’ encounter, the school authorities of Royal and Trinity colleges have to totally rely on the decision to be given by the government authorities.
According to available information, school officials of Royal and Trinity are anticipating the resumption of schools sports events, with expectations of playing the blue-riband school rugby encounter at least towards the end of the year.
However, officials of both schools are awaiting the guidelines that would be issued by the three ministries involved – Health, Sports and Education – on the resumption of school sports activities before making a final call. Both schools are keen to even hold the two-legged event behind closed doors as a last resort, but according to Sports Ministry sources, the chances of playing rugby soon remains a distant dream. Rugby, being a contact sport is among the last in the list of sports that are hopeful of resuming in the weeks to come.
The officials of Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) met for a round of discussions on Thursday to look at possibilities of conducting at least two of its listed events from the annual calendar.
During the meeting, the SLSRFA officials had decided to forward a proposal to the Ministries of Sports, Health and Education, with intentions of receiving a positive feedback in order to resume the stalled Dialog Inter-School League Rugby Championship and another junior age category competition before the end of the year.
The SLSRFA is in a state of uncertainty with two important examinations pending – the G.C.E. Advance Level (A/L) and the Ordinary Level (O/L), which are slotted to take place from mid September and early January next year, respectively.
According to reliable information, the SLSRFA is looking at possibilities of holding the Under-19 competition, the age category in which the Dialog Inter-School League is contested, in a condensed format, possibly as a 10-a-side tournament. The dates have been earmarked for the free phase between the two examinations during mid November and December.
The other competition on the cards is an Under-16 tournament, which could take place in September, where students sitting for the G.C.E. A/L exam are not part of.
Meanwhile, the officials of Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sports met for a crucial discussion on Wednesday on the resumption of schools sports events. The meeting had ended positively with both ministries collectively agreeing to meet the officials of Ministry of Education on going forward with the proposal of resuming schools sports events, before releasing a circular or guidelines, to be followed by the organisers, conductors and participants within a week.
This comes as a welcome sign for SLSRFA, who expect the green light to resume training of schools sports teams from health, sports and education officials. The SLSRFA anticipates the clearance to resume training would be given in September by the relevant officials, and it would provide them a clearer picture of the future of the two events to be held.
If the SLSRFA is provided with the green light to go ahead as they anticipate, the possibility of conducting the 76th Bradby Shield encounter will be open for Royal and Trinity colleges.
But according to a top Ministry of Sports official resumption of school sports events will occur gradually, with individual and non-contact sports given priority. This means that rugby may not be high on the list.
However, Dr. Daminda Attanayake, a Sports Medicine Doctor attached to the Ministry of Sports, stated that school rugby may possibly resume as a few other contact sports have already begun at school level.
“But it would be too early to comment,” she said, as discussions are still ongoing.