Havelocks Sports Club coach Hisham Abdeen considers coaching his charges this season as one of the toughest challenges he has faced in his rugby career.

Havelocks Sports Club is at present struggling to field a competitive team this season following a mass exodus of players from the club.

The Rugby Interim Committee administered Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union’s (SLRFU) decision to restrict the domestic league championships to the best eight teams, poses the question whether Havelocks’s dismal performance in their first match this season is of concern to the tournament’s organizer? Havelocks SC were vanquished 34-0 in the first match of the season by Army Sports Club.

"I am sure Havies will bounce back. Schoolboys who can’t find places in clubs like CR&FC and CH&FC will join Havies to continue their rugby careers. It’s interesting to see how Havies will play against the big boys (Top rated teams) this season. If they don’t finish within the top six they’ll have to play in the Segment 2 tournament after the conclusion of the first round matches of the A Division tournament," said Dr Maiya Gunasekere Chairman Rugby Interim Committee.

Gunasekere said that Havies had never had a season this bad. "There is always a first for anything and this could be the first bad season for Havelocks SC," Gunasekere said.

Rugby Interim Committee CEO Lasitha Guneratne said if Havelocks SC failed to finish within the top six teams, after the conclusion of the first round of matches in the Division 1 tournament, the club would be relegated to contest the segment 2 tournament for the remainder of the season.

Gunertane said that the segment 2 tournament was expected to commence after the conclusion of the first round matches of the Division 1 tournament. According to Guneratne, the tournament organizers are planning to have eight teams in the segment 2 tournament.

Havelocks SC coach Abdeen said that he was determined to rebuild the side with the resources he possessed.

"I believe schoolboys will join Havies after the inter-school tournament concludes. My immediate goal is to see that the team makes improvements each day. People who know me will vouch that I am not a quitter," said Abdeen.