Singer Schools Rugby league has seen no lack of violence with brawls breaking out in quite a few matches this season.
This weekend the match between St Joseph’s College and Dharmaraja College, played at Bogambara grounds on Saturday, saw a major scuffle taking place with several players being hospitalized. The general report is that a Dharmaraja player was yellow carded for punching a player in a dispersed scrum. He has thrown a punch at a Josephian player on his way back which resulted in the referee issuing him a red card. At which point a huge brawl has broken out with players and spectators too getting involved.
According to the secretary of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) Mr. Denzil Darling “we received the referee’s report only now, we have already fixed the inquiry on 22nd at 2pm at Royal College” When ThePapare.com asked him what the referees report stated, Mr Darling explained that “Dharmaraja Number 7 was awarded a yellow card and then while he was walking out he hammered to a Josephian player. The referee Ajith Kumara immediately called the player who was walking back but he did not come. At this point the referee told the captain that he is giving a red card for that punch, and suddenly the Dharmaraja bench came to the ground and it ended up in a horrific incidentwhere spectators also invaded the field”
Mr. Darling said that four Josephian players were admitted to the Kandy hospital, and they will take serious action against on this against the Dharmaraja player, master in charge and the coach. Moreover, he said that the player who started this case will not be allowed to participate in any rugby training until the enquiry is finished. The SLSRFA is also waiting to get the police report and Mr Darling stated that as Sunday was a Poya day they could not work on this matter. This report is to be received by this afternoon.
The Master in Charge of the Josephian outfit Prasantha Ranaweera explained to ThePapare.com “ 5 players were injured and 3 were discharged but for the safety of the other two we discharged them against Doctor’s orders. When we went to the Police to make a compliant on the incident, they immediately asked us to leave Kandy and provided us with a Police escort up to Gannoruwa. ”
Mr. Saliya Alexander, the Dharmaraja Master in Charge said “Dharmaraja and St.Joseph’s are friendly schools and it all happened due to the appointment of an amateur level referee by the referees union. How can you appoint such a referee for a plate championship game. He was poor from the start of the game and made so many wrong decisions”. Mr Alexander further stated that the Police had not provided the necessary security for such a game and they had also had to beat up some Dharmaraja players in the process of controlling the issue.
ThePapare.com also spoke to the President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Referee’s society, Mr Nizam Jamaldeen who said “ The player’s punch and the Dharmaraja bench reaction is totally unacceptable according to the laws (Law 10.4) of Rugby”
Law 10.4 – Dangerous Play and Misconduct
(a) Punching or striking.
A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).
He also stated that previously there have been issues with Dharmaraja College. “their physio was given a ban after throwing a water bottle at the referee in the game against Kingswood. Also their master in charge and coach were given match bans in some of the past seasons”. Mr Jamaldeen related how in a previous season a school was issued with a year ban for playing an overage player and made to play in a lower division and he echoed that in the same manner a stern decision should be made by the SLSRFA in this incident as well”
When ThePapare.com queried Mr Jamaldeen on the allegation from Dharmaraja College regarding the quality of referee, he said “ this referee has been officiating previously in Dharmaraja games and he is a very experienced referee who has been refereeing for the last 8 years. Furthermore, there were 11 matches on the day and more than 50 referees were on duty. He also mentioned that “ the IRB code of conduct clearly says officials, players and administrators cannot comment about the referees/match officials”
ThePapare.com reiterates the need to all concerned to ‘Respect the Game”
