Wound licking is an instinctive response in humans and other animals to an injury. This can clean wounds and accelerate healing. It is thought of as a form of animal self-medication. The Schools Rugby scene which to some is a “beggar’s a wound” will not heed to such simple applications. Wounds are a source of worry to some but an avenue of income to others. There can be hope only if the thinking is outside the box. There is hope as someone there wants to administer self medication.
The coaches are worried as they have not been told whether the sevens first or the fifteens. They have no idea when the season is to begin. There is no indication as to whether it will be ten teams or twelve teams. A doubting Thomas commented: “What does it matter and what is this fuss about planning at schools level.” He explained that Sri Lanka has to play in a major tournament called the Asian 5 Nations around April.
There is no coach though a pool has been announced. Why worry so much just get on with it and play when you are told: “today we have a match”. The circus will go on and there will be more clowns that will be added. At least it will make you laugh when you should be crying.
Last year the knock-out was disrupted and the cup remains nobody’s property. The league was played and winners found. Yet there has not been any action taken to award the cup. The cup is of significance to those who did their best and for the school. St. Peters; the winner will love to get the cup to their hands and be felicitated. Not that the absence of the cup will devalue the rugby culture.
Still it would be another jewel that it will adorn the crown. Fellow schoolboys know that rugby players have brought pride to the school. Other followers, including old boys, still consider themselves part of the winning team. There has been enough publicity during the season following each match they won. To St. Joseph’s the winners of Group Division One the cup means something. To a school that has had a sporting history this may be another addition for hope in a team sport. Cup or no cup there are followers buoyed by success reminding fans and schoolboys that we are in Division 1 among the best and we should not turn back.
Can we be happy at this point as those lesser known mortals ask, “What about me”? The effected are those new rugby playing schools that have come on top of in their leagues games in Division 2 and Division 3. The cup means everything to them. Winning was a silent achievement with little or no publicity. How many times have we seen a major write-up about the minions of the game? If ever it was reported it was a few words in an inconspicuous corner. To them taking the cup to school and to display the fruit of their achieving to friends and family is what would give them satisfaction. It is taking that cup of joy back to school that will encourage younger boys in the School to take up the game. It is this that will help to promote the game and keep it alive as the school gets kicked up one step higher.
What about the others who expected a certificate of playing and achieving? That will help them with those additional two marks. That will be University entry or may be the difference between Medical College and another stream. Life gets disrupted due to the folly of others as a child finds it difficult to get certification to get the additional marks that the system allows. Confusion causes chaos and ultimately the player is stranded. I was told by a Senior Official of the schools section that a schoolboy needs that certificate to support his claim to the University. In 2009 the league was run by the Union and schools section was defunct. The boy is still at a junction not knowing to whom he shall appeal to.
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Some say; the AGM of the schools association will not be held. Denzil Darling the Secretary of the Schools Rugby Association assured that the AGM will be held. The awards ceremony and the unveiling of the sponsorship will be done. All three will be done on in the first week or second week of February. He repeated with assurance and said that I could go on record and say that he said that all these will take place. Let us give him and the rest of the committee that chance till February.
Confirming, another senior official who wished to remain anonymous stated that a committee meeting would be held on Saturday. The meeting would have been completed by the time this article is published. He said that there would be twelve teams in Division one “A”. They will play in two groups of six each and the first four in each group will play each other. This will involve a manageable nine matches. He said that they hoped to get approval for the format on Saturday. What has irked the schools involved is the public statement to justify the twelfth team who won just one match last year on the basis that they have been treated unfairly. How can it be unfair when they have won only one match last year reminds others?
The official said that the tournament is what is important and that all efforts will be made for consensus. He also said that there will be 3 groups of twelve each in Division one. That is thirty six teams at the top level as it is now. The extension of this is to play the next two divisions on a provincial basis. This noble intent has an arrangement to finance the provincial schools in their efforts. Allis not lost and the numbers, thirty six, in Division One needs more help than the brickbats.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB |
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