President's Trophies on offer again

It is nice to note the revival of the President's trophy rugby tournaments which was once considered the most prestigious title to win in inter-club as well as inter-school rugby.

Thanks to the untiring efforts of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the tournament will be revived after a lapse of one year on a request made by the sports-loving President.

It is heartening to see none other than the First Citizen coming forward to resurrect the game. President Rajapaksa, former President of the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Elle Federation, has always been a great promoter of sport. But he has a special affection for rugby, gifting his all three sons - Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha, for the game to represent Sri Lanka at youth level.

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) Interim Committee has been able to revive the tournament due to a generous sponsorship package from Chevron Lubricants. The CEO / Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants, Kishu Gomes has been a true sports promoter right from the early stages of his distinguished career. My mind goes back to the late 80s during which Gomes, at Coca-Cola, and the writer were involved in school cricket and even travelled outstations on windsurfing assignments.

Ever since, Gomes has brought his passion for sport to Caltex, a household name in lubricant business which is now equally popular in local rugby circles. The contribution of Caltex and Chevron Lubricants to promote rugby is commendable.

Despite the global economic recession and unimpressive trends in the business, Caltex has played the role model of a true corporate citizen, honouring their commitments for Sri Lanka rugby. But it is the duty of the SLRFU Interim Committee, headed by Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, to make the best use of the financial backing of Chevron Lubricants and make the tournament a huge success.

The President's trophy tournament was inaugurated way back in 1985, introducing flood-lit rugby to Sri Lanka for the first time. The huge success of this President's Trophy inter-club tournament prompted the organisers to run a separate inter-school tournament concurrently from the following year. Hence, from 1986, there have been two President's trophy tournaments - for schools and clubs.

There has been great interest and enthusiasm in the rugby circles for the President's trophy knockout tournaments and that eventually overshadowed the historical Clifford Cup knockout too. The flood-lit rugby at Sugathadasa Stadium gave a new experience to local fans and drew capacity crowds for all those matches. Rugby was at its best in President's trophy matches which has always dished out fast and open rugby.

Winning the President's Trophy was the eventual dream of every school and club team those days. The tournament has been instrumental in attracting new set of spectators who have not been mere fans at normal school and rugby matches. That was mainly due to the new flood-lit experience.

We earnestly hope the revival of the President's trophy would generate better crowds for rugby matches and rugby would regain its lost pride. The SLRFU has drawn up an inter-school and an inter-club match each for a day and this would help the organizers to maintain spectator interest.

The association of Caltex with Sri Lanka rugby reaches a great milestone this year with their tenth anniversary as the proud sponsor of domestic premier league rugby. During the past decade, the leading lubrication oil company has pumped millions of rupees to foster local rugby. If not for their lavish contribution to keep the game going, the game would not have reached great heights.

But the SLRFU should not take things for granted and must make every effort to reach the high standards Caltex expects as the sponsor. More than the mileage for their money, Chevron Lubricants has a genuine desire to see to the progress of the game.

That is why Caltex has been associated with the SLRFU in the good times and the bad. Even when there were series of administrative blunders and leading teams pulled out in the past, Caltex remained and did not isolate the game.

All sports lovers should admire the true foster father role played by Chevron Lubricants and the commitment of its chief Gomes.

In order to strengthen the national team, the SLRFU must concentrate on school rugby and then groom the top schoolboy ruggerites at youth level. Dr. Gunasekera and his committee have given an early indication of such a move with the Under-23 tournament.

Sri Lanka is currently ranked No. 3 in Asian Youth level and SLRFU Interim Committee is hoping to conduct an under-23 tournament to give talented youngsters an opportunity to show their class and advance to next level.

Dr. Gunesekera says their intention is to develop rugby in the country and help it to emerge as a force to be reckoned with in Asia. But to which extent they would reach this goal is still left to be seen. Throwing aside petty club differences, everybody should rally round, scrum, push and hook out the golden goal for the game.

At the same time, the SLRFU must be firm on clubs and players. The Union should not dance to the tune of a club or a players just because they have an outstanding performance record. One could be the champion side or the most outstanding player but if they are indisciplined, the basic objectives of the sport are lost. This is a bad example for the young generation.

Rugby fans and enthusiasts are carefully monitoring the progress of the disciplinary inquiry against those players who pulled out of the national team in its last overseas tour. Two clubs have even gone to the extent of threatening to withdraw from the premier league tournament if their players are suspended. This is absolute nonsense and the Sports Minister must stand firm and should not allow these clubs to hold Sri Lanka rugby to ransom.

He must act without fear.