Rugby Interim Committee Chairman Dr. Maiya Gunasekere says that the Sports Minister should take action against the rebel rugby players who refrained from touring Dubai for the Asian Five Nations because they were members of a team ratified by the minister himself.

"This is a matter for the sports minister to act on. If the team toured Dubai as the President’s XV then the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) would have taken action against those who didn’t go," Gunasekere told ‘The Island’.

Gunasekere said that the rugby interim committee would inform the sports minister in writing what exactly took place regarding the rebel players. "The sports minister is aware of what happened but the interim committee plans to put everything in writing. Then the sports minister can take appropriate action against these players," he said.

The rugby interim committee was forced to send a second string team for the recent Asian Five Nations tournament, in Dubai, when 15 regulars made themselves unavailable, possibly in protest over a decision taken by the sports minister to disregard the nomination made by rugby selection committee as captain.

Asked how the rebel players could be disciplined in the absence of binding contracts between the players and the SLRFU he said, "These players are adults and shouldn’t have behaved like this. What they did was sabotage. They knew they had an obligation towards representing the country because they had signed their travel documents and released their passports for the tour. It’s up to the sports minister to take action against these players," said Gunasekere.

He recalled how in the past, some national rugby players had been warned and discharged, but added, "I personally wouldn’t campaign for these players to be punished. I don’t get disappointed nor am I am a person who jumps up in elation. I am a person who looks to the next task and that’s to make reforms to the SLRFU constitution".

Attempts made to contact Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge proved futile. Lokuge was quoted in recent newspapers stating that he would take disciplinary action against players who pulled out of the national rugby squad at the last hour.