Stage set for journey ahead

Yet there have been irritants that dampen the effort. There should be in place a system to ensure participants are aware of the rules and they play accordingly. Similarly there has to be a plan for the season that will not clash with the national tournaments. If we can avoid the spread of spectators between a club match and school match it may do better for the game.

In December 2005 the SLRFU organized a rugby congress which saw lots of ideas being put forward in influencing the way ahead for rugby in. Arising from discussion the objectives identified was to be: within the first five in Asia by the year 2006 and to be among first four by the year 2008. Be along with the first two by the year 2010. Become Champions of Asia by the year 2015.

The stage was set and the goals clearly identified. It requires for all involved in the game to put their shoulder to the wheel to steer the ship to the waters it want to be in. Time has now come to sit again and to ponder and discuss where we are at present and what we have to do to be where we want to be. December will be a good time to sit and reflect. It will be one year after the congress and followed by the Asiad. It is time to review the performance and be ready with action plans when it is time for the new hierarchy to take office.

How have we done in the schools section and what more need to be done to help the cradle of rugby deliver the talent needed to achieve the status of being Asian Champions by 2015? We have had a season of which we can be proud of. Yet there have been irritants that dampen the effort. There should be in place a system to ensure participants are aware of the rules and they play accordingly. Similarly there has to be a plan for the season that will not clash with the national tournaments. If we can avoid the spread of spectators between a club match and school match it may do better for the game.

It is also important to ensure the best participation at all tournaments. Often we see some schools not on the field at the sevens as much as we see them not taking part in the Presidents and Premier trophy. If one cannot assure participation and or that the season seems to be too long what has to be done is to discuss and see as how better we can organize the games. If we are to achieve what we plan to, then we have to map to be at the top level in Asia at the junior level too.

At the top level the closest on hand is the Asiad of 2006. The goal is to be within the first five. Are we ready and planning to be there? The selectors have done their job and the pool is in place. I begin to wonder whether those who deliberated have set their eyes on the target set. The inter-provincial tournament turned to be a lame affair with one match being played for less than twenty minutes a half. To take wing to play in the Rugby 80 may have been more important than the fulfillment of the national dream. What is the foundation of the SLRFU constitution? The collection of provincial bodies is what it is built on. Then why was it that there was so little enthusiasm?

Rugby 80 is a tournament where there is a weight limitation and should have been more suitable for the Asian teams to participate. Yet how many of the Asian Countries were there.

The host country Thailand marked their presence with two also ran teams as they too are in the midst of the domestic season and has to think of the Asiad where they are in the Plate section along with Sri Lanka. It is the need to set our priorities right that is lacking and the national interest not being the first that is at fault. If we are at the top level in Asia we will always be invited. If not we will be there to make numbers when ambitious tournaments are started. When such tournaments get under top gear we will be behind them chanting “please let us play, we helped you at the start”. We must be able to keep our heads up with better performances at the national level. Taking part in tournaments with little planning and or preparation and being whipped by over 70 points does not contribute to the image of a Nation that is in the ascendancy in the Asian circuit.

All what every body does in this game is no doubt well meant. The importance however is to coordinate those efforts for the achievement of the national cause.

As we get ready for the new custodians to take over there has to discussion on the direction and it must be in unison. There is going to be lot of work for the new management, whoever that may be, to uplift the game to the higher level in the next two years. The stage has been set in the past two years, now we wait for the main actors.