Where have all the top rugby referees gone?

Hafiz Marikar

Where have all the top rugby referees gone., most of the top players now don’t take the whistle, after they hang up their boots, why?

As far as rugby is concerned, it is part and parcel of our culture and lifestyle that will never diminish. What is happening now, is that the game is fast developing with all schools particularly the Division “A” teams playing at the highest level and encouraging all schools both in the Urban and Rural areas to take up the game.

Rugby will go regardless, but will also gain great deal from the new facilities provided by the Rugby Union exposing rugby to grassroot level and the Sponsors showing great interest to support this game Island wide.

The draw back of this fine game going from strength to strength, is the unprofessional and weak set of Referees who control the game at all levels. It is unfortunate that although the Sri Lanka Referees Society is well over 60 years in existence the standard of refereeing in the domestic front is most disappointing and have more or less become corrupt with several referees playing fiddle to higher official in the society and higher ups , the just kill the game. This is very clearly evident in both the Schools and Club games.

Several matches have gone away and the true winner on the losing side for sheer negligence by the referees concerned. All this happens only to one or two teams of their favourites or initiated by various party or parties. In some instances players and spectators have gone to the extreme of abusing and assaulting the referee or the Linesmen when things done go their way. Today tough judges have become a pain of the game, they interfere, even after the referees whistle. This was evident in a tri nation game, where Sri Lanka ended as losers. Where a local touch judge over ruled the foreign referee.

Rugby’s rapid growth in Sri Lanka both in terms of number of participants and status have defined the sport over the past two decades, being reflected in an ever increasing spectator and media interest, but all this will progress and develop if the standard and referees do not improve with immediate effect. Over the last two decades the Referees Society have not introduced to the referees cadre any good quality referees of high standards Dilroy Fernando and Nizam Jamaldeen are considered the best of the lot in today’s game, most of the others are far below standard.

A rugby stalwart said, there were severe opposition from leading clubs, but they could not overcome the pressure by various quarters. His strong advice is to refrain from politics in rugby, and he left because of politics. The parent body SLRFU should not bring politics to the game, what is said in the Board room should stay there... No interference..

To this the best way out is for the SLRFU to take total control of the Sri Lanka Referees Society like what was done by former Vice President and present Secretary Lasitha Gunaratne who took over and did a grand job where all referees immaterial of their seniority were given opportunities to do their job of refereeing with no interferences. But this died down for reason best known to the authorities.

Rugby was the only game that was played in the true sprit of the game much loved by the players with brotherhood, mutual trust and friendship. During this time rugby administrators were all gentlemen with good governors, principals and discipline at the highest order. The Rugby greats with the whistle during that era should be mentioned in particular those were all gentlemen referees of the calibre of Darly Ingleton, Lt. Col. Bertie Dias, Ashey Cader, Miles Christofelz, Malcom Wright, John Banks, M. Azain, Mohan Sahayam, Harry Goonatilake, Gamini Fernando, Anton Benedict, Ana Saranapala, Nimal Lewke, Tony Amith, Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Daya Jayasundara, Frank Hubert, S.W.Chang, A.R.M. Moosa, Anil Jayasinghe, Bently Bassenbach, Roshan Deen are some that come to my mind

Like introducing overseas players, referees too should be brought from overseas.