Under 20 Rugby Tourney to go ahead as scheduled

The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) will go ahead with this week’s Inter-Schools Under-20 ‘A’ Division League Rugby Tournament fixtures despite the prevailing situation in the country.

A high-ranking official of the SLSRFA revealed that following a meeting with the tournament sponsors Dialog Axiata PLC, they have decided to play all ‘A’ Division matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

The key match for this week is the high-profile clash between the traditional rivals Royal College and S. Thomas’ College on Saturday at the Royal Sports Complex in Reid Avenue.

Meanwhile, Trinity College will host St. Joseph’s College in another important match at Pallekele and Wesley College will be up against the giant killers Science College at Longden Place on the same day.

In addition, Dharmaraja College will face off their hometown rivals Vidyartha College at the Nittawela Stadium on Saturday. Two former league champions Isipathana College and St. Peter’s College will go ahead on in a grudge battle at Havelock Park on Sunday while St. Anthony’s College will meet Kingswood College at Nittawela on the same day. However, some of the schools in Colombo are in a spot of concern regarding their players’ availability for the matches and practices due to the current issue associated with regular transportation.

“We have a lot of players who are coming for practices from a long distance, and they are struggling to get to college and return back safely,” a veteran rugby coach from a leading school told the Daily News yesterday. Another schools’ senior rugby coach blamed the SLSRFA for going ahead with the tournament as it could have a huge negative impact on the young players.. “Most of the parents are not willing to send their children for practices under these circumstances and because of that the SLSRFA should hold responsible if something critical happens to these players,” he stressed.

“There are so many issues that the parents are facing right now and the biggest concern for them is about the security of their children and the transportation crisis,” he added.

“We are not asking for any postponement of matches or regarding the change of venue but the authorities should have the courtesy to understand these issues we are facing right now,” he concluded.