After the successful conclusion of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLR) under strict health guidelines, backed by the indefatigable efforts of Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, the rugby fraternity and rugby loving public in the country are eagerly awaiting the good news of resumption of the oval shaped ball game in the country.
‘Daily News’ managed to talk to incumbent President of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), Rizly Illyas, on their plans to resume the game with the dawn of the new year after a barren rugby calendar this year marred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rizly and his team of officials are determined and are pumped up to kick start the domestic rugby which they have prioritized in their agenda under the theme of ‘Getting back to Rugby’. They have had a very fruitful meeting with the Sports Minister who extended his fullest support to resume the game with the support of the Health Ministry.
According to Rizly, SLR has to abide by World Rugby and local Health Authority guidelines. They have sent a comprehensive document to the Health Authorities prepared with the assistance of Dr. Sankalpana with a copy to their main sponsor Dialog Axiata, to commence the inter club domestic tournament.
SLR conducted a workshop relating to the guidelines last August, but due to the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 they had to scrap their plans to re-start rugby, which he feels unhappy about.
SLR is pretty confident necessary approval will be granted by end of this week, which will enable clubs to get their squads ready to go into a ‘Club quarantine training bubble’ from the 6th of January. Two PCR tests will be taken within that bubble, after which they will be transferred to a separate SLR bubble. This process needs meticulous planning and proper execution.
SLR has forwarded a budget proposal with three options, and awaiting the all-important greenlight from their principal sponsor Dialog Axiata.
Rizly was delighted to state that sports in general has received a big boost under the watchful eyes of the Sports Minister. Everybody is aware that the Minister too is faced with an uphill task with the COVID-19 pandemic.
SLR has his blessings and support for rugby to resume, and as one of the responsible pioneer Unions in Sri Lanka and Asia with an unblemished record of over 140 years in the game, the administration needs to consider carefully in taking decisions to restart rugby, since the health authorities have classified rugby as a level four contact sport.
With the government decision of opening the airports for regular passengers, SLR has extended an invitation to all clubs to recruit foreign players if the need arises.
Dialog is very much keen to continue the existing sponsorship with SLR. On a request by SLR to look at uplifting the sponsorship amount.
SLR has kept the Sports Minister informed of the discussion they had with Dialog to seek his blessings to attract new sponsorship, and the signs have been very positive.
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