Rugby: The game in Sri Lanka to go under strict scrutiny

With the intention of regulating the level of competitions and adding quality to the game, the Council of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has decided to standardize competitions being held in Sri Lanka. 

The decision, which was made earlier this week at a Council Meeting will come to act with immediate effect, according to SLRFU Secretary Nazim Mohamed. 

Accordingly organisers of tournaments will have to seek SLRFU approval before making other arrangements if they are willing to move on with a governing body sanctioned competition. 

"The idea of standardizing tournaments is not to decline them from conducting competitions, but to support them and set standard according to World Rugby (WR) tournament guidelines. Be it any tournament of any age category, the organisers will need to get SLRFU approval and it's all about having at least the basic requirements to run a competition, the safety of players and other important areas," Mohamed said. 

The SLRFU will notify all its affiliates on the development and if any party of group forego the procedure the Council will refrain from providing referees of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Referees' (SLSRR), which is also part of the entity. 

According to insiders, some tournaments -- importantly in the junior age category -- are run by organisers without meeting proper requirements or a transparent competition rule. 

At one instance, a source revealed, that the final of a junior competition had its kickoff at 6.30pm under fading lights and it was played as a 4-minute per-half game. 

This weekend a junior 10-a-side tournament for the Under-12 age group is being played on a ground which has been divided into three playing fields, perhaps less specified than the minimum requirement. Rugby experts complain the need of scrutinizing such competitions. 

"We have received large number of complaints from many, especially parents, who are concerned about player safety and other requirements. We will read their tournament structure, manuals, competition rules and guidelines, medical facilities and so on. If they need to be structured out, we will guide them and help them fulfill whatever shortcomings. The presence of a medical team and an ambulance will be compulsory from now on. If the basic WR guidelines are met and followed, the SLRFU will sanction the tournament and they can move on. At least the SLRFU will have a liability if any problem crops up," he added. 

If parties wish to forego the process and conduct a competition on their own will, Mohamed stressed that the SLRFU will not consider it as a sanctioned tournament and whatever comes afterwards will be the sole responsibility of those who conduct the tournament. 

Hence the SLRFU will not provide referees for such competitions. 

"Rugby is getting bigger in Sri Lanka. The amount of competitions played at junior level shows the need of regulating competitions and taking them to an even level. This will be a guideline all affiliates of SLRFU should follow from now on. If they fail, the governing body will not hold responsible of anything that may come out negatively. It will be mandatory to all and will come to affect immediately," Mohamed said.