 “The Schools Rugby Section and Isipathana have commenced a dialogue,” This is according to the Secretary of the SLSRFA. To accommodate a settlement following the enjoining order issued. With “A” level examinations and other commitments I would not expect another re-match or the final of the Knockout to be played.
The parties at war must take into account that they are playing with tomorrow’s kings. Schoolboys should not be a pawn to satisfy the ego of some. Children of today look to athletes as role models. If the young are directed to violence the mimicking will be of violence.
The emphasis of winning leads to overflowing emotions in competition. This needs to be managed and directed. It is essential that we encourage good sportsmanship and positive attitudes. Winning should not be at any cost. It is here that the adult has a major role to play. It should not be an Oxford body and a Montessori mind. Rugby is a sport where the physical contact is high and emotions rise. It is a good game followed by many. Positive peer pressure and good role models are important to teenagers. Rugby is a means to building character where courage, respect, honesty, commitment, team and hard work make the difference. To move out from the ethos of rugby is a crime to a young generation.
Even the Referee was a confused man when it came for the replay (Pic by Ranjith Perera) |
“Rugby is valued as a sport for men and women, boys and girls. It builds teamwork, understanding, co-operation and respect for fellow athletes. Its cornerstones are, as they always have been: the pleasure of participating; the courage and skill which the Game demands; the love of a team sport that enriches the lives of all involved; and the lifelong friendships forged through a shared interest in the Game.
It is because of, not despite, Rugby’s intensely physical and athletic characteristics that such great camaraderie exists before and after matches. The long standing tradition of players from competing teams enjoying each other’s company away from the pitch and in a social context, remains at the very core of the Game.
Rugby has fully embraced the professional era, but has retained the ethos and traditions of the recreational Game. In an age in which many traditional sporting qualities are being diluted or even challenged, Rugby is rightly proud of its ability to retain high standards of sportsmanship, ethical behavior and fair play. It is hoped that this Charter will help reinforce those cherished values.” Source: IRB playing charter.
Schools rugby trains and prepares to take those values through life. The high level of expectation around competitions and winning pressures may take you away from the culture The possibility of straying away from values is real. Because the players, coaches and others involved have a short time of around 2 to 3 years to make a mark. That's the thing about School rugby. In a knockout you might only have one chance to make a name for yourself. That is hard and leads to irrational thinking. The bigger better rugby schools have a responsibility to lead and live by example to ensure newcomers learn to respect values and live up to traditions. If you can’t best is to do away with the knock out and concentrate on league or traditional matches.
In this game there is also a role for that “little fellow” in the middle; internally condemned, blamed and criticized. How we treat him leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the player mainly because others lead him to think: this little fellow does little than mess the game. Ever tried having a game without him?
How many things does a referee have to watch in a match amidst 30 players all the time? All he has to look at is not equal .Tackles, rucks, mauls scrums and line-outs are more complicated than passes, but even passes make their demands. Spectators can watch or not watch as they feel like, sip a beer, smoke chat, shout, fall asleep or look at the nice damsels around. But the referee has to watch every second of the 80 minutes of the game.
He has to keep a watch and decide on close to 600 or more issues. In an 80 minute game that is around 6.8 a minute. One almost every nine seconds I have taken statistics from IRB game analysis of the last Under 19 World Cup The referees attention during 80 minutes of play involve at an average , 200 Passes:, 80 Kicks: 175 Tackle / ruck /maul: 36 Scrums (including resets): 30 Line-outs: 20 penalties: 4 free kicks: 4 drop outs and 4 re- starts’. Add to that the referee's supervision of medical men substitutions/replacements fake injuries, blood etc. The players involved are confined to a field and mostly active in confined spaces on the field. The players are at the same level as the referee, and can block the view of a referee. He does what he has to do among hostile and partisan players, coaches and a crowd.
To him some situations are easier such as a pass or a long kick: but still needs observation. The ball may not be cleanly caught. It may be knocked backwards or sideways or forward or be knocked back and bounce forward. Miss one and the referee is in trouble. There are the complex situations such as tackle: an area of conflict. It is not just what they do when they are there but also how they get there. If there is a ruck or maul; it is more complicated as offside lines come into play. The scrum is equally difficult. 16 players governed by laws of binding, angles, off side crooked feed etc. Line-outs are not as simple as they look with the possibility of offside, obstruction, foul play, in air infringement the straightness of the throw etc..
A kick too is not that simple. Was it taken back into the 22, was it out on the full from outside the 22, offside/onside of team mates etc. In this complex game there is a little man armed with a whistle backed by the ethos of the game -sportsmanship. Destroy the ethos of rugby and you destroy rugby. You destroy the youth. Attacks on referees erode the ethos of the game. The best you hear in favour referees is that they have a thankless task. You need to consider they are human and they make mistakes. The same is true of players, coaches, selectors, administrators, politicians, teachers, reverends, mothers, fathers, and children .it includes every single human being.
*Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB |
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