Rugby 7s team in the dark; face the risk of missing Asian Games
The Sri Lanka 7s men’s rugby team is at the risk of being withdrawn from the upcoming Asian Games 2023, due to the stalemate position of the governing body, Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), which is under suspension currently.
The rugby 7s of the Asian Games 2023 will be held from September 24 to 26 in Hangzhou, China and the national rugby selection committee picked 12 players under the captaincy of Kandy SC flyhalf Tarinda Ratwatte.
With the Asian Games 2023 only five weeks away, the squad is left in the dark as to who will take responsibility in making necessary arrangements including training, residential camps and travel to China and back.
According to a letter written to the K. Maheeshan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports by Hassan Sinhawansa, the Executive Director of SLR, the local rugby administration, which has no proper takers at present, are unable to function or access its bank accounts to fund the men’s 7s squad to commence training for the regional event.
Despite being banned by World Rugby, the global rugby body permitted Sri Lanka to field a men’s 7s team for the Asian Games, but under the National Olympic Committee (NOC) flag. The Ministry of Sports appointed a Stabilization Committee to carry on the functions of SLR but with an ongoing legal battle them and the suspended administration, neither of the committees are able to perform duties.
The responsibility of the men’s 7s squad were shifted to the Ministry of Sports (MoS) and the NOC, who are jointly taken over the task. Sinhawansa, the Executive Director of SLR had forwarded a budget proposal to the MoS Secretary on July 25 with a total costing of Rs. 22,736,975 for the Asian Games, its preparation and other needs such as medical, clothing, meals, accommodation and clothing both locally during training and the event. This is for a contingent of 16, 12 players and four officials.
During the run up to select the final 12, the selection committee initially had a long list of 38 players, who were brought down to Colombo for as the deadline to present the names of the players of the squad was soon approaching. Trials have been conducted on July 12 and 14 by the selection committee before naming the final squad.
But so far, the squad has not commenced training without nobody to provide guidelines to the team and its officials on behalf of SLR.
“As the Executive Director, since April 10, I have tried all best possible ways in preparation for the Asian Games, but due to legal restrains and no funding, SLR is in a dilemma and Sports Ministry will have to inform the NOC and World Rugby whether the Sri Lanka Rugby team will be able to participate due to lack of funding and the legal case which is pending on the Gazette Notification and Stabilization Committee,” Sinhawansa’s letter to the MoS Secretary said.
He has outlined the MoS and NOC to look into the possibilities of a mechanism on how to release funds for training, as days are numbered for the event with travel and other arrangements, such as visa, clothing and equipment, still pending.
On April 11, MoS appointed a Stabilization Committee to overlook SLR and the appointment was challenged legally by the suspended administration headed by Rizly Ilyas. The Court of Appeal issued an interim order on July 14 depriving the MoS or its agents from interfering into SLR affairs, but the verdict was appealed by the Stabilization Committee at the Supreme Court, which is set to hear on September 1.
If Sri Lanka fails to field a team as confirmed earlier at the upcoming Asian Games, a possible fine is on the cards, which may be equivalent to the amount mentioned in the budget proposal. The Sri Lanka men’s 7s rugby team, captained by Tarinda Ratwatte, also includes Adeesha Weeratunga, Chathura Seneviratne, Anjala Hettiarachchi, Akash Madushanka, Dinupa Senevirathne, Gemunu Chethiya, Dharshana Dabare, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Ramesh Fernando, Heshan Jensen and Adam Gauder.