The grand portrait of a sportsman’s career is often completed with the adding of the national colours. Having represented ones country at the highest level in the sporting arena is often the dream and goal of most athletes.
A dream that is envisioned throughout the growth from a novice to a fully ledged master of the game who dreams to one day bring pride to his/her nation in the arena of sports. Be it “wearing THAT black jersey” or donning the “stars and the stripes” to represent ones nation in an international sporting event is not only a service but an obligation of sportsman when it comes to ensuring the future growth and stability of the sport at a national level.
However it is frequent to hear of the conflictive dilemma between national representation and the barriers of sporting at club levels. Often being the more lucrative branch of the tree, athletes tend to prefer swinging off it rather than the morally obligatory, prestigious but less profitable vine. Rugby stalwarts such as Sonny-bill Williams and Jerome Kaino have been reported having left the ranks of the Blacks( to the despair of the many devoted supporters) in search of greener pastures.
Controversy raised its ugly head here at home when it was reported that four veterans of Sri Lankan rugby were absent from national practices in the build up to this week’s third leg of the Asian rugby Sevens to represent their team; the Navy at the Defense Services tournament. The four players have been singled out as Tuskers Sajith Saranga, Chula Susantha, Dinusha Chautharanga and young Jason Dissanayake alongside stand by Saliya Handapaangoda. The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union refused to release the four players from national duty following a request by the Navy sports club. However the Navy sports club is reported to have taken a tough stand on the players not allowing them to attend Sri Lanka team practices which caused a lot of strife in the preparation of the national team.
Having climbed aggressively to the position of rank 3rd in the Asian rugby circuit, the official contention was that the absence of the four could trigger a morale-set back amongst the remainder of the national squad. Even more that they could sustain injuries in service of a cause other than that towards the nation. Sri Lanka is a strong contender to enter the Cup final in the next two legs, with the last segment to be held in Singapore.
Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union secretary Rizly Illyas is quoted having expressed his displeasure over the lack of corporation by Navy sports clubs saying that “Everyone has a priority and that is the nation must come first and not anything else we are worried about all this, at a time when our team was doing so well in the Asian Sevens circuit”. And also stated that he received a negative response from Navy sports club officials following his request for the release.
Club rugby in Sri Lanka is no doubt loved by fanatics of all angles on the game. However it should be made clear that in the hearts of each and every Lankan rugby fan is the desire to someday see the green elephant crest of the SLRFU stand proudly at Eden Park or elsewhere, where the legends of the sport are written.
