Clement Isack - A referee on the move up

SHARM DE ALWIS

From 1984 to ‘93 Clement Isack studied at Trinity, the school that every school wants to beat at rugger because it is the ultimate and has it not been stated that ducks take to water like Trinitians take to rugger?

Clement was a follower of the game from his early days though he missed out on a place in the College 1stXV due to his slender physique and because Trinity at the time of Clement’s final year, Trinity had a crack side which included players of the caliber of Haris Omar, Rajive Aluvihare, Nalin Muhandiramge, Indika Ratnayake and Aruna Ranaweera who currently is a referee with the USRFU.

Clement’s latest association with the game commenced in 2005 following his offer to help out as a volunteer assistant coach with the mini and youth section of the former organisers of the annual Dubai Sevens - the Dubai Exiles Rugby Football Club.

Since then he has been a regular at most youth tournaments in the UAE and has developed a knack for refereeing following his coaching stints with junior teams.

On completion of an IRB officials’ course, he entered the fray in 2008 as a member of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Referees Union and has gained invaluable experience by officiating in more than 50 games throughout the last season.

Clement considers his appointment to the U18 regional tournament at the RWC Sevens in March 2009 as the highlight of his career up to date as the opportunity presented him with the chance to mingle with the best in the world and share views on the thankless job of refereeing.

He was recently selected as a member of the AGRR’s Development panel and is determined to go all the way with his sights set on a place at the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

Clement posseses the qualifications at the IRB Level 1 and 2 Coaching Courses and IRB Level 1 and 2 Match Officials Courses. His objectives are to give back to the country and earth more than what he took off it and to help restore Rugby to its rightful place as the premier sport in Sri Lanka.

Clement is currently a Banker employed with the Barclays Group in Dubai as a Unit Head and is a nature lover and entrepreneur who is engaged in an eco-tourism venture in the tea estates of Hewaheta.

Clement’s recent engagements have been:

International tournaments: Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens in Dubai in December 2008 as a Referee. IRB Sevens World Series, Dubai in Dubai, December 2008 - Referee’s Assistant.

Regional U18 Sevens Tournament, RWC Sevens, Dubai in March 2009 as Referee. Rugby World Cup Sevens, Dubai, March 2009 - Referee’s Assistant. A5N Division i Tournament, Dubai, April 2009 - Official Number 4.

Regional tournaments: AGRFU Premiership, AGRFU Gulf League, AGRFU Emirates League, Peugeot Sharjah Tens Rugby Tournament, Al Ain, Youth Rugby Festival, Etihad Airways - Abu Dhabi Harlequins Youth Rugby Festival, Ogilvy Lakes - Dubai Exiles Youth Rugby Festival, Dubai College Tens Rugby Tournament.

Schools’ tournaments: AGRFU Emirates School’s League Tournament UAE (Sept ’08 to March ’09).