To say it has been eventful is an understatement, the Dialog Club Rugby League has lived up to expectation in not only dishing out fantastic fare and rich rugby with delightful contentions and hotly contested games, it has had interesting twists and controversies galore some even undocumented and passively solved.
Feisty bands of men, playing from their hearts bring out all the passion and with it come problems, proving of course a nightmare to the SLRFU who have to find solutions to all these issues.
Refereeing of course is top of these issues. As one discontented coach commented all the colossal budgets set a side for their teams are a waste when one referee mistake costs them a game and standings in the league. The age-old topic in rugby has been the standard of refereeing in Sri Lanka and the few men who are brave enough to take it on are cut to pieces at every mistake. The total human factor in these decisions are never taken into consideration by the fervent fans who will always look to blame all losses on the referee anyhow. Having said all that the fact that the referees or its union does not seem to do anything to add more professionalism to their job has left them open to all this brick-bats, mutterings and in some cases thrashings. Clearly the referees are out of their depth and totally not in touch with the subject at hand and the confidence and courage to implement it. It is an immediate course of action for the authorities to first see that these referees are educated and thorough on the laws of the game.
The refereeing standards are indeed dipping from low to atrocious. The recently concluded match between Navy and CR & FC is one such where the referee blew the whistle for a stoppage and the CR players halted in their tracks and Navy went over the try line. The flustered referee on the input of the linesman allowed the try making the most heinous mistake recorded in rugby history in Sri Lanka.
Drama ensued and has become the talk to of town.
ThePapare of course looks for saner counsel and have approached the authorities on these matters. SLRFU states the matter is out of their hands and that the referees decision cannot be reversed according to “IRB Regulations’ and the head of the Referees Society Orville Fernando was unavailable for comment despite fervent efforts by ThePapare.com
According to the SLRFU two other citing issues have been brought to light in the Havelocks vs Army match and decision on this will be released to the media in due course after the relevant inquiries.
Kandy was subdued by ever-present Navy in strong-hold Nittawela and they avenged it right after with 93-5 vs CH and FC.
The drama will continue to unfold after the break. Stay tuned for the latest on www.thepapare.com
