Kandy Stars Thrown Under the Bus

By Harsha Amarasinghe

Arguably the best rugby players of the country are set to be overlooked for national selection due to incompetent administration.

Police Sports Club are set to host what is called the ‘Invitational Rugby Sevens’ at the end of this month with the participation of 12 teams where Navy SC and Army SC are sending three teams each while Police SC and Air Force SC are fielding two teams apiece.

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) a few weeks ago had submitted a squad of 30 players to be placed in a bio-secure high performance camp as part of their preparation for the Asia Rugby Seven Series, but the Sports Ministry demanded the squad to be selected after playing a tournament which at the time looked unrealistic. To be fair to the selectors, it was a very reasonable squad based on the performance of the last two years or so, but perhaps the Ministry wished for certain individuals who had not played much rugby in the last two years.

SLR then tried their level best to organize a tournament on October 30 and 31 which would also be considered a selection trial for Asian Sevens, but since Police had already planned the Invitational Rugby Sevens on the same dates and SLR, the parent body, had to change their plans so one of the clubs can have it their way. SLR were basically told to back off, but by whom? Daily Mirror leaves it for the readers to think!

However, none of the players from Kandy Sports Club which has won the most prestigious championship 20 times in the last 25 years, will be able to take part in the tournament. When contacted by Daily Mirror, Kandy Sports Club stated that they are not ready to take part in the tournament ‘due to the time frame and financial burden.’ However, they would permit their players to go and take part in the tournament.

Usually, Sri Lanka national squads are dominated by Kandy players, but should they not take part in the Invitational Rugby Sevens by Police, they obviously would be not considered for selection.

This led to current Sri Lanka 7’s captain and Kandy SC wing three Danush Dayan to take an action.

Since Kandy SC is not willing to take part, Dayan with another group of Kandy players who have represented Sri Lanka formed a team called ‘Kandy Kings’ hoping to get a chance. In a very short period time, Kandy Kings were able to find the sponsors for their team which the Kandy SC somehow failed to achieve and all these top players took time to practice and work really hard so that they will be given a fair chance to show what they are capable of, only to be turned down yesterday (5).

A SLR official stated that if they are to play, Kandy SC shall have to send a formal request which is unlikely to happen. Daily Mirror also contacted Central Province Rugby Football Union about the possibility of making arrangements for these players who represent Central Province’s rugby, but they could consider making an effort ‘only if the terms of the tournament are agreeable.’

Among the bunch of players who are set to miss out are certain former Sri Lanka captains such as Kavindu Perera, Roshan Weeraratne and even Srinath Sooriyabandara who was one of Asia best 7’s players a few years ago. Traditionally, Kandy players have dominated the rugby squads which have been picked without any influence, but picking a national squad out of the players taking part in this tournament is like selecting a World XV from players of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.

Not just the Sports Ministry and SLR should be taking the blame for this situation, but also the Kandy Sports Club itself because they are playing with the careers of rugby players who have been putting their body on the lines for such a long time with very little reward.

The following players are set to miss out on Asia Rugby 7’s if the Kandy Kings are not allowed to take part in the Invitational Rugby Sevens – Danush Dayan, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Kavindu Perera, Tharinda Ratwatte, Roshan Weeraratne, Richard Dharmapala, Buddhima Priyarathna, Lavanga Perera, Thilina Bandara  Heshan Jansen, Diluksha Dange, Tharindu Chathuranga, Chamika Perera, Lakshitha Ranaweera, Asiri Senavirathna, Oshan Perera