Arrival of Asia Rugby President in SL stirs speculation

 Asia Rugby President Qais Abdallah Al Dhalai

The arrival of Asia Rugby President Qais Abdallah Al Dhalai in Sri Lanka this week to inaugurate the Asia Rugby Division 1 Tournament 2024 has stirred speculation given much controversy and alleged setbacks caused in the recent past.

The Asia Rugby Division 1 Tournament 2024 featuring national teams of Sri Lanka, Qatar, India and Kazakhstan will be held from 30 April to 4 May at the Racecourse Colombo 7. Officials however ruled out accusation of Al Dhalai causing any set back to Sri Lanka Rugby.

Nevertheless, former officials claimed the recent three years of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) under the tenure of President Rizly was marred by alleged high handed and questionable actions on the part of Al Dhalai. There was verbal collusion between Al Dhalai, Rizly and also former Sports Minister. There had been allegations that certain actions of Al Dhalai undermined SLR’s standing in the rugby community.

Al Dhalai was voted as the new Asia Rugby President at the Council meeting in Bali in November 2019, his term will run till 2024. At the time of campaigning for the presidency Al Dhalai was alleged to have signalled repercussions if SLR didn’t back him. There had been collusion between Al Dhalai and World Rugby though the latter hadn’t enforced any decision.

Sources recalled that Dhalai’s actions prevented SLR from competing at International Sevens Tournaments, further exacerbating the suffering endured by the organisation when even the country’s national flag was stripped and had to be replaced by the IOC flag for the country’s rugby players to compete internationally.

It was maintained that SLR deserves justice and those responsible for inflicting the game should be held accountable.