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by Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka registered a consolation 54 points to 15 win over minnows India in their 2002 Rugby Asiad tournament match played at the Dhupatemee Stadium, Bangkok. The win gives an indication of a revival of Sri Lanka rugby, which is suffering one of its worst periods ever.

Sri Lanka could not crow about this win as India are the babes of Asian rugby and is not a force to be reckoned with in any way.

Considering the fact that the Indian side is compared to a local club side, Sri Lanka should be ashamed of allowing India to score 15 points in the first half. The Indians gave Sri Lanka a good run in the first half only to trail 15-22 at lemons. Sri Lanka, which enjoyed only a seven-point lead by half time, came back in the second half but that was merely due to the inexperience and lack of staying power of the Indian team.

However, the win over India ended Sri Lanka's pathetic display of losing six rugby union Tests in-a-row - one at the World Cup Qualifying round (vs. Kazakhstan), three at the 2002 Asian Games (vs. South Korea, Japan and Taiwan) and two at the current Asiad (vs. Kazakhstan and Thailand). During the six defeats which brought Sri Lanka rugby to its lowest ebb, Sri Lanka suffered its worst ever defeat in a rugby union Test, when Japan humiliated them 129-6, which looked more of a cricket score. In cricketing terms, Sri Lanka, were once again thrashed by Thailand in the previous match - "72 for no loss".

Change of captain or coach did not end Sri Lanka's problems in rugby. Captain of the Sri Lanka team for the Asian Games in Busan pulled out from the team to Bangkok Asiad criticising the SLRFU's inability to commence early preparations for the tour of Thailand. A few days before the team's departure, national coach C.P. Abeygoonewardena too resigned. Sri Lanka went to the Asiad with a new captain - Asanga Rodrigo and a new coach - Tony Amit, minus nine of their regular players, who pulled out due to injuries and various other reasons.

There was speculation of some resignations in the rugby circles yesterday. Unconfirmed reports said a council member of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has tendered his resignation and a couple of others too are likely to follow. Despite all the development work the SLRFU has been talking about, the standard of Sri Lanka rugby team has gone from bad to worse. Who is going to take the blame for the poor set up of local rugby? Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Johnston Fernando is trying his best to resurrect Sri Lanka rugby, but his lone effort is insufficient, unless the SLRFU and the administrators take serious interest with a vision.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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