The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) has reportedly informed the principals of Royal College and Isipathana College to be present at the next meeting which is scheduled to be held on May 28.
This is in view of the series of inquiries over the incidents that took place at the Singer U-20 Division ‘A’ Schools Rugby match between Royal College and Isipathana College, which was worked off at the Royal College Sports Complex on May 18, 2013 (Saturday).
The SLSRFA has also informed the match referee Pradeep Fernando and the Secretary of Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society (SLRRS ) Dinka Peiris also to be present at the above meeting along with the two principals.
According to reports reaching ThePapare.com, SLSRFA has conducted the inquiry upon a complaint lodged by Royal College, citing player safety, the game’s future and edited video footage, justifying their walk-out from the game.
Following the inquiries held so far in which the edited version of the video was screened, the officials have highlighted the below points:
1)The incompetence of Mr. Pradeep Fernando who refereed the match.
–Based on the video footage, several punches, eye-gouges were left undetected.
-Two tries of the Royal camp were overlooked.
-Only giving verbal warnings to players, rather taking firm control of the game, despite such incidents being brought to notice by the two touch-judges
2)A communication barrier between the referee and the players from both schools, which had possibly resulted in referee Pradeep Fernando failing to convey messages clearly.
3)Complaints from Royal College, stating the boys from Reid Avenue were subjected to punches, kicks and gouging of eyes, citing International Rugby Board sanctions for players violating the rugby rules during a match (A complaint reported to the preliminary inquiry by the Royal College delegation).
According to Dinka Peiris, if the allegations against the referee Pradeep Fernando of being incompetent are proven, the SLRRS would be taking their own decision. He also had stressed that, anything with relate to the school players’ discipline and behavior needs to be addressed by the SLSRFA. “It’s schools Association who should suspend any player who would have been proven of assault and breached the rules”, he was quoted by a Sunday newspaper.
Meanwhile, the issue has left the officials in a complex situation as they had received statements from both camps.
“Royal claim that their opponents threw punches at them and after nearly three quarters into the game they decided to walk out, when Isipathana say they are innocent when footage shows otherwise. Even though Rugby is a full-contact game, what was seen in the video is unacceptable.The Royal team does not have the authority to walk out of a game but then there is a fair argument by what their officials claim on player safety. Isipathana did remain on the field and were willing to continue, but there’s a lot to be addressed in a match that ended with many openings for series of inquiries”, an official was quoted following the inquiry session.
The Royal camp is also expected to handover copies of the unedited match video (full match) to both SLSRFA and SLRRS, responding to allegations made by Isipathana College stating that edited footage which was released on YouTube by the Media Unit of Royal College and the clip produced for the inquiry, was doctored.
Sources confirm SLSRFA inquiry was held last week at St. John’s College, Nugegoda, with the participation 10 officials of SLSRFA, including members attached to the disciplinary, tournament committees and four vice presidents, of the schools rugby governing body.
SLSRFA is expected to announce their final verdict over the incident on June 1 (Saturday) in Kandy.
