When ‘Kandy Reds’ take on ‘Colombo Blues’, THE perfect showdown for this year’s rugby season

The year 2010 started off by giving the incumbent president HE Mahinda Rajapakse a landslide victory over his former Army commander Gen. (Rtd.) Sarath Fonseka. At the aftermath of this Presidential Election came the General Election for which almost half of the registered voters, were boozed out and had almost forgotten to cast their votes! Then came the price hikes on oil prices, bread, gas, essential items, etc, those branded as ‘colloquial affairs’ for a typical Sri Lankan. Experts panels were appointed, Death fasts were laid down (and laid off), protests and ‘work to rule’ programs had been flooding the Sri Lankans’ mindsets, not allowing them to have a proper sleep, sometimes.

Amidst all these complicated issues. Our dear Murali said goodbye to the game through which he was made the golden factor of the Sri Lankan spin battalion, after adding just one more wicket which totaled upto 800 test wickets, a spot one should think harder of reaching.

Complications

Interestingly, this year’s rugby season is somewhat similar to the obscured scenario mentioned above, in the first para. The Peterites, who were accused, blamed and almost scraped through for allowing a sizeable number of players from other schools to join them and play for St. Peters College’s 1^st XV team. 

Two Mahanama College Ruggerites were then suspended following an incident which had taken place in their match against St. Joseph’s College in the ‘Singer’ Under 20, division two Inter-Schools rugby encounter. The duo were slapped with a six month ban, by the SLRFU (Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union) following a decision arrived at, after receiving the match report from the match commissioner. The case in short: the match referee Rohan Nishantha had to stop the match eight minutes before the scheduled time, as the players of the St, Joseph’s team were assaulted while in grounds. The two players in concern, who had already been awarded with red cards, had then run into the grounds. This act is against the rule which describes, ‘a player who is already being offended cannot go into the play area at any condition’.

Then came the Finals of the Milo-Knockout tournament between Royal College and St. Peters College, which has ‘unofficially concluded’ due to a court case filed by the Isipathana College, who did not field their team for the semi final against St. Peters the previous weekend. “What’s the latest of the Milo Finals?” I asked one of my colleagues who has been engaged in photo shooting of the most thrilling season. “I have no idea machan”, he replied. He was fed up over the question. How many might have worried him with the same question? “Who cares of what happened?” he posted me a question. Seriously, does anyone care about it?

“BATTLE OF THE STARS”?

ThePapare.com, to which I call the ‘Online sports Engine’ had a flash banner on the top of its website last week, which said, “Battle of the Rivals”, “The All star Rugby Encounter” organized by the website, with the strategic partnership of SLRFU, the media representation of YES FM, and the backing of Dialog”. The information was sufficient for me to gather, kind of a ‘Collision’ that would erupt as a result of the above ‘Strategic Coalition’.

“BATTLE OF THE STARS” is the brainchild of ThePapare.com, which is THE platform for Sri Lankan schools’ ruggerites to take part in a breathtaking encounter, which is to be worked off among two teams formed from both Colombo and Kandy schools’ ruggerites. Interestingly, the organizers have already commenced the selection processes which are currently underway in several phases, in both Colombo and Kandy. The members for the two teams would be selected by the all new schools selection committee headed by Michael Jayasekera. The rest of the committee members are Tikiri Marambe, Chandrashan Perera, Pradeep Basnayake and Savantha de Saram.

The two teams will be representing their cities as “Colombo Blues’ and ‘Kandy Reds’. The logos of the two teams are as follows:

The event would be a great experience for all Sri Lankans and especially the rugby enthusiasts as the ‘best players’ from the schools from the Commercial capital and the hill country would be taking on each other at this encounter which is scheduled to be exhibited on August 7 (Saturday), 4.30 pm onwards at the CR & FC grounds.

Can the venue hold thousands of ardent rugby fans and spectators on the above date? For a fact I know, from the small school boy to the tuk tuk driver, the bus conductor, teacher, the sales guy, the bombai motai seller to every living being in the Hill capital are greatly passionate about the game and really do expect their players to perform well. Since the event is played in Colombo, the neighboring Los Colombus dudes and ‘dudettes’ would turn up!

The teams are to be announced next week’s Tuesday. This was revealed at the press conference which was held at SLRFU premises yesterday, to announce the media over the event. Vice president of the SLRFU Lasitha Guneratne at yesterday’s briefing had stated the event would be a great opportunity for all the schools, and its rugby players, together with the fans to unite in strengthening the country’s quality in Rugby.

At the meantime, this is a great opportunity for the players to show off their talents as the selectors would be eyeing upon them in selecting a stronger Sri Lankan squad for the upcoming Junior Asiad. The players chosen from Colombo: Colombo Blues would be trained under Sanath Martis, who is the coach for the Pete’s 1^st XV team. The Kandy Reds on the other hand would be coached under Nihal ‘Viper jnr.’ Guneratne.

What more can the Rugby fans expect? The cream of the schools’ rubgy players being trained under two of the most influential coaches in the country, ready to showcase THE RUGBY ENCOUNTER OF THE SEASON. I’m sure; this would take away all the hardships you have been experiencing throughout the season.

Wrapping up, an open invitation to all the readers:

Witness THE rugby encounter you have never witnessed before!!! Rally around the CR & FC grounds on August 7, 4.30 pm…