From a once competitive force in Asia, Sri Lanka now finds itself among the poorest of the poor in the sport of rugby at a four-nation championship called the Asia Rugby Division One tournament to be played from April 30 to May 4 at the Race Course ground in Colombo.
Having ended as one of the best teams in Asia behind Japan and South Korea in the 1990s at what was called the Asiad, Sri Lanka struggling to be in the scrum will now take pride to be pitted against Qatar, India and Kazakhstan that did not exist in the eyes of rugby at the time.
For nearly four years Sri Lanka has not played at a competitive level on the Asian scene while its past pompous officials squabbled to show their hollow importance and some of the best players went into virtual exile moving overseas to the United Arab Emirates or playing for domestic clubs that paid them.
In gearing up for the event, Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) said its players were looking forward to wearing the Elephant-emblem jersey once again while at the same time welcoming teams that merely make up the numbers from among 112 nations ranked in world rugby.
‘With a 145 years of legacy and as one of the oldest rugby playing nations in Asia, our players wish to display their natural talents and skills and also to share and strengthen our deep rooted cultural ties through rugby with the visiting Asia rugby teams”, said the president-elect of SLR retired Air Force Group Captain Nalin de Silva.
He could be the only active stalwart of a bygone era that made him a household name during his playing days.
Sri Lanka is currently 44th behind Madagascar and Malta from the 112 nations playing rugby with India ranked 87th, Qatar 94th and Kazakhstan holding the 64th position while the best three teams in Asia, Japan (12th), Hong Kong (24th) and South Korea (30th) have some clout in the world rankings with South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, France, England, Scotland, Argentina, Italy, Australia and Wales occupying the top 10 slots.
Asked whether Sri Lanka is heading in the right direction playing against teams ranked low down, former Asiad fly-half and one time Secretary of SLR Dilroy Fernando said it was a tragedy that the team has to fight for recognition from the dumps.
“This is how Sri Lanka is being forced to earn a promotion. There was no vision and planning for the future. The country is now paying the price because of officials who never accepted their faults.
“This is the worst we could have fallen into. In this set-up even life members don’t’ want to get involved. Looking back we had the support of everyone. My heart is with the players and rugby fans”, said Fernando who has become a voice for change.
