Rugby Clubs forward proposals to SLR prior to resuming practices

The outbreak of the pandemic – which has crippled rugby for the last 18 months – resulted in a barren domestic rugby calendar, which also had a major impact on clubs, some of who lost their sponsors and some even losing their contracted players due to sustainability.

In view of this, the clubs have put forward certain requests to the rugby governing body to try and accommodate them to kick-start rugby in the country as planned.

Local rugby giants Kandy SC is one of the teams who sent a letter early last month with regard to resuming Inter-Club rugby.

The letter contained a few points which had been discussed and agreed upon by their General Committee. These points included that all their players should be vaccinated (with two jabs) against the prevailing pandemic and practices should commence two weeks after completing the second dose.

It also stated that they need adequate time – at least three months – to get into condition to play; if not, there is a high risk of players being injured.

They last trained as a squad in March 2020, which means they have been out of action for over 18 months.

With the bad experience earlier this year when the much anticipated ‘Commander’s Cup’ organised by Sri Lanka Air Force couldn’t kick-off as planned due to various reasons, the clubs incurred immense financial loss.

To overcome a recurrence of this situation, clubs urged SLR to grant them a letter of guarantee from the Ministry of Sports that the stipulated tournament will go ahead without any issues.

The letter from Kandy SC further highlights that any conflict with the proposed tournament sponsor if imposed on the clubs, SLR must compensate the club in this situation.

The letter also emphasised on various other needs with regard to the betterment and safety of the players.

“We at Kandy SC maintain certain standards when it comes to competition. As an initiative we look at the player’s safety to resume practice by injecting the vaccination in two doses.”

“We can see some of the clubs have already started practices when the health authorities have not granted official approval along with the Sports Ministry.”

“We are confused and without any proper directive from the concerned authorities are unable to resume practices. SLR should make a thorough study of our request and the situation before they make the final call. We hope all clubs will agree with what we wrote to SLR.”

“Most of the players are employed and they won’t be able to get released from their employers for the bio-bubble environment. At a time when we are struggling sans sponsors during these unprecedented times, it is very difficult to play as a team and retain them. Hence, we urge SLR to consider our request favourably to play competitive rugby,” disclosed Lasantha Wijesuriya, Chairman cum Senior Vice-President of the club.

Tough passage

The overall view of some other clubs, too, remains the same. Havelock SC too are passing through a tough passage of time.

“To start up any sort of practice we need a guarantee in writing from the SLR assuring that the tournament will go-ahead as planned with the necessary approval from the health and the Sports Ministry.”

“We incurred a big loss preparing for the ‘Commander’s Cup’, where we spent over Rs 2.5m for arrangements under tough situations but at last to no avail.”

“At present, it has become much tougher than what it was, where we struggle without our regular sponsors who are reluctant to come forward without a proper rugby calendar.”

“Retaining a squad is also not an easy task with the coaches during this period of time. Nevertheless, for the love of the game and as a club with a rich rugby history, we will compete provided with well-executed plans with prior approvals and of course with the support from the SLR,” said Thusitha Peiris, President of Havelock SC.

The Asian Rugby Championship is to be held later this year and SLR is taking all these initiatives to resume the sevens format of the game in order to pick players for the National pool to prepare for that event.

Rizly Illyas, President of SLR said: “We are yet to get a letter of that nature. Anyway, one thing is for sure; our aim is to restart rugby in the country under tough conditions. The last 18 months has been a barren calendar for us due to the pandemic with rugby listed as the fourth stage contact game by the health authorities.”

“We know clubs too are having tough times and few of them had a chat with me. Retaining the players and paying their salaries has become a herculean task for them. But they must understand as a governing body whatever possible avenues we will support them. But some of their issues are non-solvable by us.”

“We have an international calendar to compete at the end of this year. We have to scout the players for it and make preparations.”

“The best possible way to do that is to play the tournament. With the Sports Minister’s support we managed to get the vaccine for 150 people including players and officials. We are in the process of gaining the second dose for them by August 8.”

“We too are boxing on with limited resources while hunting for sponsors. It is very difficult for us to cater to the demand of these clubs. We would love to see all eight teams compete in the tournament under the health protocols.”

“But if some club is unable to field a team, then we will have no option but to play with the available teams by the end of our deadline,” concluded Illyas.