In a bizarre turn of events, the Sri Lanka Schools’ Rugby Football Association has made yet another controversial decision to include D. S. Senanayake College Colombo in the top tier, with less than 48 hours to go for the league to kick-off.
This decision comes after D. S. Senanayaka College appealed to the courts in order to justify their case of not being admitted to the top league, despite having finished in the top four places in the Plate segment.
It was Prince of Wales who took the spot designated for D. S. Senanayake after the SLSRFA awarded full match points for the game they played against C. W. W. Kannangara. The reasoning provided for the awarding of the game points was that the latter had fielded ineligible players and in a most controversial manner, the governing body had awarded the points in favor of Prince of Wales.
Read more: More SLSRFA chaos as court issues enjoining order
This decision that came under heavy criticism, has made the SLSRFA take a decision to accommodate D. S. Senanayake in the top division. In an official communiqué dated 21st February 2017 to the Principal of D. S. Senanayake College, President of the SLSRFA B. A. Abeyrathne states that D. S. Senanayake College has been given the right to participate in the ‘A’ Division following a special committee meeting held last evening (21st).
It further explains that D. S. will be drafted in the Group I-A of the league along with Isipathana, Royal, St. Peter’s, St. Anthony’s, St. Joseph’s and Dharmaraja.
With less than 48 hours to go for the much anticipated league, it has turned all plans of the respective schools on its’ head. With a new school drafted in all schedules will have to be adjusted, grounds to be found etc.
This decision by the SLSRFA opens up a whole new set of conflicts in the group as there would be unevenness in the Group I-A and Group I-B.
All teams in the IA segment will be now forced to play six games while the other teams will be playing only 5 games. This will cause massive issues when the points table is calculated with the inclusion of bonus points in the system. It is left to be seen how the authorities plan to go about it.
It will also result in a distinct disadvantage for one set of teams and it will be crucial when the league progresses on to the second round. DS Senanayake will have the advantage of playing just the lower-ranked teams as the league should generally start with top teams playing the bottom.
The SLSRFA further noted that D. S. Senanayake will be granted a break this week but this means that the Dons who will now have to find suitable dates and venues to play their respective matches within the timeframe.
This puts schools in a much more pressurized situation with all schools planning three to four months ahead of the season with the number of matches and opponents pre-notified.
ThePapare’s efforts to contact SLSRFA officials pertaining this matter proved futile.
Deaf-ear to Prince of Wales
With D. S. Senanayaka getting their green light, it is questionable as to why Prince of Wales is still listed in the top tier.
ThePapare learns from a reliable source that Kingswood College was also offered an ‘A’ division start but the respective authorities had declined the offer stating that they had planned their players and budgets to suit the ‘B’ Division which is a fair argument by all means.
With uncertainty prevailing in the decision making, there is all possibility of the schools’ league being put off until the issues are sorted out.
