Staging the Carlton Rugby Sevens, an International Rugby Board (IRB) Asian Regional Series at the Sugathadasa Stadium on November 28 and 29 is a big boost, especially when an interim committee is running the sport. Also the Armed Services taking an active interest in the game is a tremendous fillip for the flagging game, said Anton Benedict, the former Sri Lanka, Police and Havelocks rugby skipper and a Life Member of the Sri Lanka Rugby Union, during an interview with the Sunday Times.

Anton Benedict

Benedict, who is now the General Manager of the CR&FC, lamented at the plight of his old club Havelocks who hit rock bottom at local competitions this year. “Everything is money these days. If you do not pay the players the amount they want, they do not play for the club. They prefer to sit on the bench rather than even play for the B Division side. CR is well established. They have enough sponsors. Actually you need about Rs. 10 million a year to run a rugby club successfully these days”.

Nevertheless some old stalwarts of Havelocks and even Malik Samarawickrema, the king pin of Kandy rugby are concerned about the Park Club’s plight and want to pull the Havelocks out of the rut they are in.

A Havelocks-CR rugby game in the 60’s drew unprecedented crowds, but the same fixture hardly attracts 500 spectators nowadays.

Speaking on the Rugby Interim Committee, Benedict said that they came in when the game was on the brink of being defunct. “But now they have done their duty and the new body must be elected.” Asanga Seneviratne is expected to be elected as the SLRFU’s new president at the AGM scheduled to be held in December or January.

According to Benedict, Dr. Maiya Gunasekera is working on a new constitution which could help A Division teams and Provincial Councils. “The IRB does not recognize interim committees, only elected representatives. As a result the SLRFU is losing their help and our development has come to a stand still.

I do not like outsiders interfering in rugby matters, including the Sports Ministry, mainly because we have enough and more people to deal in rugby matters. There is Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, Dr. Fred Pereira, Jagath Fernando to name a few. We have enough people to administer the game. The interim committee has remained for so long. Now I feel that they should go out. As a past stalwart I am there to help the Union and so are others like Gamini Fernando and Y.C. Chang. They too are eager to help the game we love most.”

Benedict admitted that there were problems earlier too when the Union did not have money and that they have asked help from former President Chandrika Kumaranatunga and former Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella and they had responded magnanimously.

Benedict lauded the Armed Forces for taking an interest in the game with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his sons also being die-hard supporters of the game. “The best way to promote the game is through the Armed Forces. They are stationed everywhere and it is a matter of pride to represent your uniform,” said Benedict

Benedict recalled the days when he had to play in the B Division side for Police and Havelocks when the sides he played for bristled with international and classy players. “Noel Brohier captained the Havelocks in 1965 and I had no way of ousting him. Then when I switched over to Police in 1967 I had to play for the Police Griffins (the Police B team) and ultimately the team led by S. Sivendran emerged B Division champions and were promoted to the A Division. He said that his proudest moment was when he led Havelocks to the Triple Crown (Sevens, League and Knock-Out champions) in 1978. He also had a word of praise for former skipper Nizam Hajireen whose fantastic kicking brought Police glory in the 60’s.