Rugby: Court order stalls foreign players from Dialog League

An injunction order has been issued by the Supreme Court today (23), to Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) preventing foreign players from taking part in the ongoing Dialog Rugby League 2018/19. 

The injunction order came just seven hours prior to the first game of the third week's play between Havelocks and Navy SC at Havelock Park. 

SLR had given the consent to allow a foreign player each for the four bottom half teams, which was initially objected by almost all clubs, but later all clubs agreed on the decision.

However CH&FC, who finished fourth in the previous season, appealed to the courts challenging the decision. 

Interestingly, CH&FC are the pioneers in introducing foreign players to the domestic competitions in the early 1990s.

As a result SLR will be forced to withdraw the foreign players from the four bottom seed teams, CR&FC, Army SC, Police SC and Air Force SC as the injunction order issued by the court prevents any foreign player from taking part even in the second round or the knockouts.  

"It is an order given by the courts and we will have to respect it” a senior official of SLR stated.

SLR will have time up to December 14 to appeal against the injunction order.