Sports

Sports

And now, it’s school rugby match fixing?
By S.R. Pathiravithana and Shamseer Jaleel
Is the ugly head of match fixing trying to desecrate the schools rugby arena too? The Sunday Times learns of a scenario where referee Pradeep Fernando had to pull out of blowing at the recently concluded Thurstan-Isipatana match. Referee Fernando in a letter to the Rugby Referees Society has alleged that Thurstan coach Gamini Indrasena (who is also an active referee) had persuaded him to blow in favour of Thurstan.

The Rugby Referees Society has appointed a committee to investigate the matter. Fernando pulled out of blowing in the game at the eleventh hour and the Rugby Referees Society had to replace him with another senior referee – Orville Fernando who finally officiated at the match which was ultimately won by Thurstan.

Thurstan thus annexed the Abdul Jabbar Trophy for the first time and also were promoted to play in the ‘A’ division next year while Isipatana will remain to play in the ‘B’ division tournament next year too as a result of losing this game.

This was also a vital encounter for both teams as the winner was to qualify for the Milo President’s Trophy Schools Knock out division one tournament starting tomorrow.

Indrasena an old boy of Isipatana College and a past rugby player of the school and of Havelocks SC denied all allegations against him and blamed internal politics at Isipatana College rugby for this situation.

Top