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Sports, studies must go hand in hand
By Bernie Wijesekera
After the conclusion of the Premier League Tournament the long drawn out schools rugby season comes to an end. Imagine the schools season starts in March with practices. The season proper begins in May.

Besides the tournament matches the schools scrum-down for their traditional matches, too. In some quarters talks are floating around why Royal College is not taking part in the K.O. tournament organized by the Ministry of Sports.

Even charges are levelled at the Schools section for their inability to compel them to play in the tournament. A senior official of Royal College, sports - (rugby section) when contacted by The Sunday Times said, after the Bradby Shield (second-leg) the curtain rings down. Unlike other sports, its a body contact sport. Some of the players sustain injuries and take a long time to heal. For a continuous period of six months in a gruelling season they need a break. Even some parents have complained to this effect. Their future is not merely on rugby. The youngsters must have something to fall back for their future betterment.

Sports and studies must go hand in hand. Royal's motto is learn your books and learn to play the game. Unlike in other rugby playing nations there is no professionalism in this beautiful sport here, and for its continuity. Put aside professionalism in Rugby in this country there are no Clubs even for the school leavers to indulge even in a light-hearted vein.

In the years gone by, how many of our talented schoolboys who have excelled in sports have entered the portals of the university. There were plenty, the likes of C. Thurairaja, Ernie Peiris, CDL Fernando, Darrell Weinman, Buddy Reid, Sarath Wimalaratne, H.I.K Fernando, Sheriffdeen, Brendon Gooneratne, Cyril Ernest, Lareef Idroos, Maiya Gunasekera, Nihal Gurusinghe, URP Gunatilleke etc. who were outstanding sportsmen. Some of them playing at the national level too.

All passed out from the medical College. Today there is hardly anyone to crow about.
The same source from Royal said not only the (Reid Avenue School) but other schools, too should be taking serious note of in the interest of the child's future.
No one could blame if they refrain from participating. Before taking action against schools not participating, the organizers of this Premier K.O, must take action against the clubs refusing to taking part.

The Rugby Union administration is found wanting in this aspect. Apparently they tend to dance to the whims and fancies of the clubs. The Ministry of Sports must take a serious view on the ongoing happenings in some of the controlling bodies. It needs men of integrity to run its affairs in the interest of the motherland's future development of the respective sports.

If some schools refrain from taking part, then they have the interest of the child's future, but not merely going for trophy hunting.

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