Rugby: Sri Lanka combined Under-18 Girls' team for Dubai

An Under-18 Women's Rugby team from Sri Lanka will play in the peripheral tournament played during the Dubai 7 from December 1 to 3, it is learned. 

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) is promoting a team from the country as an incentive to promote Women's Rugby and to give young girls the much needed exposure. 

A majority of the girls that represent the combined team come from the Sabaragamuwa, a region that has been the main feeders of Women’s Rugby in Sri Lanka. 

Thanuja Ratnayake, a Sri Lanka Women's Sevens player, who played for Army SC travels with the team as coach while A.L.F. Razeeya, a live wire of Women's Rugby from Sabaragamuwa, has been appointed as the Lady Chaperone. 

Ratnayake had her grounding for Rugby in Kelani Valley while Razeeya has been involved in the game at St. Mary’s Girls School Yatiyantota, who field teams in most age groups of Women's Rugby, including the Under-14, 16 and 18. 

St. Mary’s has been in the front of Women's Junior Rugby and has won championships at different age levels in the recent times. 

The participation is a positive event in the relationship between SLR and the Schools Section as the fielding a team is the vision of the governing body. 

The nurturing of the combined team was a result of the SLR and the School section working together. 

Customarily in Sri Lanka, when a positive move is being initiated criticism always comes within the package with confusing statements been made and accusation on the selection of the Lady Teacher accompanying the team as Chaperone. 

This is a requirement of the School Section and the Ministry of Education when girls' teams participate at events local outbound or at internationally. 

The Sunday Times learns that the main argument is that the Teacher-in-Charge of Rugby at CWW Kannangara Maha Vidyalaya in Borella, Sagarika Kulatunge has been overlooked despite she has been involved in the Schools Rugby for over 10 years. 

When contacted sources of the School’s Section dismiss the criticism, stating that though CWW Kannangara MV, a mixed school, has not fielded a women's team. 

Whereas Razeeya through her efforts fielded teams for the women's tournaments for over 10 years and has been an active supporter of Women’s Rugby in Sabaragamuwa. 

The source also say that CWW Kananagara MV was suspended in the Schools Tournament for fielding an ineligible player and a policy followed is that no official from a school facing disciplinary issues is selected to travel abroad. 

Sources confirmed that though the Secretary of the Schools Section has not sent the letter the Teacher-in-Charge of CWW Kannangara MV, who was in the committee and was well aware of the decisions taken against the school by being demoted as part of the disciplinary action.