Bid to introduce 80-80 rugby to Sri Lanka

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

The International Rugby 80 president Dilip Kumar who is a Sri Lankan born, residing in Australia on a visit to his motherland expressed his support to introduce this 80-80 form of rugby to Sri Lanka.

It was revealed during a press briefing at the Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo recently. Being in the international rugby scene, Dilip is a former member of the International Rugby Board (IRB) and also held the presidency of both Australian and New South Wales Rugby Unions.

Dilip explained that even though Sri Lanka got skillful and talented players they have not been competitive in rugby against Northern Asians or Europeans mainly due to the difference in size of their bodies. Rugby has turned into a 'big boys game' and the Asian nations have been greatly distracted by this trend.

He further pointed out that most of the contact sports in the world are subjected to weight categories as boxing, wrestling and judo which ensure a balance in the sport.

80-80 rugby is a format where the average weight of a player should be 80 kilogrammes and the whole team should not exceed 1200 kgs. There will not be a minimum weight but the maximum will be 88 kgs for a player. The game will be played for 80 minuets as usual. The weight restriction will be the only difference to the normal rugby and it will preserve the competitiveness of the game.

"In recent times rugby spectatorship in Asia has greatly declined mainly due to lack of excitement in the game. Spectators will love to experience a competitive game rather than watching big boys hammer the little ones.

Even in Sri Lanka, School rugby matches receives more crowds than Club games due to the competitiveness. 80-80 will be the ideal game to drag back spectators as it promises a speedy, competitive balanced game with much excitement and less injuries," Dilip disclosed.

With the support of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) 80-80 rugby will initially test with the Defence Forces. Later it will span to the regional level with an inter-provincial tournament. The game should also be introduced at school level as well alongside the open weight rugby tournaments.

"The local Old Boys Clubs of the rugby playing school fraternity would be another venue to bring in the game as it will help to popularize all forms of rugby in the country.

According to IRB statistics schools rugby in Sri Lanka involves more than 100, 000 players but these players has not been absorbed by the limited number of clubs. 80-80 rugby will make new opportunities for these drop outs," Dilip revealed.

The Central Province Rugby Union Chairman Mohan Samarakoon said that he will propose SLRFU to bring this form of rugby to North and East when they introduce rugby to these provinces.

He also emphasized that 80-80 rugby has to bring in without a hindrance for the open weight rugby.

Dilip praised IRB for the wonderful job they have done to include rugby 7s to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. "Yet the rugby sevens gained popularity in the region, still the big guys will always be advantageous. It will be interesting to play a sevens competition with a weight restriction," he said.

"IRB has identified the importance of popularizing rugby in Asia as the 2019 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be held in Japan.

I have discussed with the IRB Secretary General Mike Miller on 80-80 rugby and Mike has pledged his support to flourish the game internationally, specially in the Asian region as it is important to nurture all forms of the game in order to popularize rugby.

Mike has promised to be here in Sri Lanka to watch the first 80-80 rugby tournament 80-80 rugby has gained wide popularity in New Zealand, Australia and Japan and it will be the ideal competition for the small framed but very talented Sri Lankans too.

"Sri Lanka will excel in this form of rugby as it will provide a level playing field where we can compete with any of the elite team in the world," Dilip concluded.

SLRFU Secretary and international rugby referee Dilroy Fernando, Sri Lanka Army coach Col. Saliya Udugama, former SLRFU president Japana Jayawardena were also present at the discussion.