A shameful start to the season

The 2006 domestic season got off to a disgraceful start with the much looked forward to inter-club sevens final turning out to be a boxing bout in the end.

The CH-Kandy final at Longden Place had a premature end, following a rowdy brawl between players of the two teams. It all began after flanker Dilanka Wijesekera scored a try early in the second half as CH & FC reduced the deficit to 12-14. It was at this point that the players decided to go for each other, rather than the ball. CH & FC team decided to walk off after Kandy SC's Nalaka Weerakkody assaulted CH trainer Ravindra Athukorale in full view of the spectators.

Things worsened as CH & FC's Milinda Jayasinghe and Kandy SC's Sanjeewa Jayasinghe exchanged blows thereafter. Both of them were then thrown in to the sin-bin by referee Dilroy Fernando. But Weerakkody went scot-free. As a result of referee Fernando showing a blind eye on the unruly act of Weerakkody, the Maitland Crescent team decided to walk off in protest.

Needless to say the brawl has left a bad taste right at the beginning of the new domestic rugby season and does not augur well for the game. Especially with the Sri Lanka national team due to compete at Hong Kong Sevens, Commonwealth Games, Singer Sri Lankan Sevens, IRB World Cup qualifiers and 2006 Asiad, it if not the time to practice martial arts, but to find the cream of our talented players for the national pool.

Kandy skipper Jayasinghe was quoted as saying that Weerakkody was tempted to punch the CH trainer because he (trainer) had abused him. But that's a lame excuse. Weerakkody can't take the law in to his hands, even if Athukorale had abused his captain. His act looks even more disgraceful, considering the fact that he is a veteran Sri Lanka player.

What Weerakkody should have done was to bring the incident, if that had happened as they allege, to the notice of the referee. What Weerakkody should understand is that he is a respected figure as a versatile Sri Lanka player and should not engage in any acts to tarnish that image. Irrespective of any of this, Weerakkody should understand that he is just a player and not an official or a judge to determine a punishment to anyone.

On the other hand, referee Dilroy Fernando's actions looked somewhat questionable. Being a respected IRB referee, Fernando should have used his authority in a greater manner. Many of the spectators had a full view of the unruly act of Weerakkody. Then, why didn't Fernando throw Weerakkody out? Even if Fernando had not seen the full drama, he could have consulted his touch judges to make a ruling.

It's not just exchange of words that led to the exchanging of blows. There is a history to that. CH & FC is greatly disturbed by Kandy SC's regular act of throwing lucrative deals to players from Colombo clubs. A top CH & FC official alleged that club coaches at CH, CR and Havelocks put a lot of hard effort to groom youth players and once they blossom, Kandy SC tempt them with money and other rewards.

If Kandy SC is throwing out lucrative contracts, it is good for poor players. But what has been noticeable in recent times is that Kandy SC has been filling their reserves bench with talented players, thereby depriving them of a chance to play. Though these deals sound financially well for the players, it does not look good for the game as talents of the players won' be sharpened if they continue to be among the reserves.

If an affordable club throws rich financial deals to attract players in excess, thereby preventing them from playing for their opponent clubs, it is not a healthy sign for the development of the game. It would have been greater for a champion team like Kandy SC, if they could depend on talented products from the hill capital alone, especially with products from Trinity, St.Anthony's and Vidyartha, and groom in their own talent factory.

The SLRFU must act quickly to prevent any similar incidents in future. They should hold an impartial inquiry and prove that the governing body for rugby is supreme and that the officials are not biased.

The SLRFU must question both the clubs and players or officials connected to the ugly incidents. A tough action is needed immediately and the culprits should be banned for a specified period, irrespective of their seniority or places in the Sri Lanka team.

Discipline should always come first, ahead of talent. Unless the SLRFU makes a clean move without any 'forward passes' to maintain the club loyalty of their officials, we could experience more black marks as the season progress.