by Ravi Nagahawatte
There is a saying that nothing comes easy before its hard. The national ruggerites of yesteryear believed in this dictum during their careers. These ruggerites wore the ‘white jersey’, the country’s national jersey, with relish. There was hardly an occasion then when anyone earned the national jersey without effort. It is sad to note that after Priyantha Ekanayake’s reign as captain players seem to have gained entry into the national side with half the effort that is required.

Ekanayake, who is at present serving in the National Sports Council, was someone who could make the players do what he exactly wanted them to do. He had strict control over the players where ever the team performed. Priyantha had an aura about him which made players think that they could perform with him on the field. It was during Priyantha’s time that Sri Lanka were eyeing for the fourth place in the ASIAD. Sri Lanka almost always got the better of Chinese Taipei and lost without being humiliated when they played against Asian super powers Japan and Korea. The void he has left as an able captain hasn’t been filled to date.

Many in the rugby circles have suggested that former Sri Lanka ruggerite Chandrishan Perera could be the ideal candidate to become the next national coach.

It is reported that the national selection committee has refrained from naming nationals pools for the forthcoming Asian Quadrangular and the Hong Kong sevens tournaments as there is no coach to take charge of them. And when one thinks of the future rugby coach of Sri Lanka he should be someone who the players can look up to as a role model. Perera has the knowledge, the personality and above all the ability to command respect from the players. There are of course a few players who played along side Perera whose names can be considered for this post of coach. Some time back Sports Minister Johnston Fernando expressed the idea of recruiting the services of a foreign coach. However many feel that eventhough a Sri Lankan should be there as the head coach. George Simpkin was the country’s rugby consultant. during last year’s Rugby ASIAD. If one analyses the contributions he had made to Kandy Sport Club’s rugby it would be a brilliant idea to retain his services.

Many in the rugby circles feel that Sri Lanka’s ruggerites are playing too much rugby. And what is dangerous to the boy’s health is that the same players, especially the play makers, are called upon to represent the country tour after tour. There is little news about promising winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who is nursing an ankle injury. The rugby authorities don’t seem to be able to find a replacement for Jayasinghe. And many feel that he will be promptly named in national pools once he makes a come back. Jayasinghe’s fans feel that the lad should be given the opportunity to take his own time to recover from the injury before making himself available.

One can remember Sri Lanka hosting the year 2000 Asian Junior Rugby Football Tournament with pride. There was a souvenir published by the SLRFU. In it most of the youngsters said that they had the ambition of representing Sri Lanka. However it is evident today that a good number of this squad have hung up their boots. What seems to have happened to the goals which they set themselves?. On the other hand none can blame them as what they envisioned as their future in rugby turned into what could be best described as a mirage. This was mainly due to the fact that the rugby authorities in Sri Lanka didn’t have a solid plan for them. Mind you these ruggerites put little Sri Lanka on the rugby World map by qualifying for the 2001 Junior Rugby World Cup through the Asian Junior Rugby Football Tournament.

The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union is around the corner. Its a new year and rugby critics are of the opinion that the new committee will go all out to get as many sponsors as they can and once again make rugby a popular sport. People who have played the game at the highest level are not going to give their blessings to their children to continue rugby if this situation doesn’t change.