With the Asian five nations rugby tournament hanging just around the corner ThePapare.com managed to catch up with SLRFU Secretary Mr Rizly Illiyaz who shared his expert opinions with us.
Former Peterite Illiyaz, having been affiliated with Peterson Sports Club and CH 7 FC (2000-2001) as secretary of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union has in recent years played a leading role in the administration and turn-around of Sri Lanka.
Q: What does it mean for Sri Lanka to host a tournament of this magnitude?
“It is no doubt a great opportunity for Sri Lanka to bid for and win the rights to host a tournament of the highest standards of 15s rugby played in Asia. It is no doubt good news for the future of rugby in Sri Lanka”
Q: We are vying for a place in the top division with the heavy weights of Asian rugby. How big a part do you think home conditions will play?
“It would be a great advantage no doubt” added Mr. Illyas who went on to elaborate that the second option would have been Kazakhstan where travel and accommodation and climate would be compounding factors against the comfort of the Sri Lankan players. Mr. Illyas also did not forget to mention the extent to which the ground support of the home crowd would bolster the morale and ferocity of the Tuskers.
Q: What has the SLRFU learned by the given opportunity to host this tournament?
“We have learned of the international standards of hosting such an event. From ground preparations to how it is to be staged, to details such as the accommodation, comfort and facilities to be provided to the foreign players” Furthermore Mr Illyas admitted that the hosting of the tournament takes great effort; an effort fully worth for the success of rugby in Sri Lanka.
Q: What is the SLRFU’s view of Yoshitha Rajapakse’s captaincy?
A widely asked question by Lanka rugby fans everywhere is why has the Lankan superstar and senior man Fazil Marija not been handed captaincy? Mr. Illyaz laid all confusions and doubts to rest stating that Yoshitha’s Selection was approved by the chairman of the selection committee Chandrishan Perera (a knowledgeable stalwart of the game himself) as he was seen as a young and relentless captain capable of “putting together a great young side” said Mr. Illyaz “look what a great job he did with the Navy side”
Q: What do you think are our chances of qualifying are?
“I think our chances are very good but we should not take the other teams lightly in any case. If we take it steady, game by game we have a good chance”
ThePapare would like to thank Mr. Rizly Illyaz for the sharing his valuable time to share his views in order to enlighten the Sri Lankan rugby fans.
