“Royal Kill”: two birds with one stone

By Ayantha Panditharatne

The first round matches of the 2019 Schools Rugby League tournament conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) ended prior to Sinhala New Year. On conclusion of the first round (top league), the two groups standings for the second round matches were as follows.  For second round matches, when scheduling was done at the initial stage, SPC requested for their first match against fourth-placed S.C. (in group B) to be played last, due to lack of practices owing to the Holy week from 15th April to 21st April. At this point, another Christian College objected to it, stating that SPC could have a major advantage by scoring the necessary tries to be the league champions. This Christian College went to the extent of claiming that SPC may “purchase” S.C. to become league champions. Anyhow, this Christian College ended up the season in a bigger “soup”.

Scheduling of the second round matches got postponed, due to the prevailing security conditions in the country at that time after the unfortunate Easter Sunday incidents. 

At this stage, it was clearly to be seen that there were three contenders eyeing for the league championship, i.e., SJC, SPC, and RC. So let us concentrate on these three teams and their second round match schedules, done by the SLSRFA Tournament Secretary.

Under Tournament Rules (as per the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association – 2019 Hand Book in Section 21 under Para “2nd Round Format”, Sub-Section 21.1 and 21.2 in pages 51 and 52), the above schedule is completely contradicting. The last match in the second round should have been SPC vs. SJC (two teams heading the respective groups). Instead, SPC completed their 2nd round matches on 22 June, playing against SJC, and RC had the luxury of playing the last match in the second round against SJC, knowing what to do to become league champions. At this stage (by 29 June) SJC knew after losing to WC and SPC that they were out of the race. 

After giving this scenario, many Rugby fans claim that SJC committed by “offering” the victory to RC, by allowing RC to score 4 tries (through which RC could claim bonus points) and becoming league champions. RC knew from the word go that they had to win the final game against SJC with four tries to become league champions.  Just a win with only 3 tries will not help RC to be league champions. On the other hand, the SJC thinking could have been, “we missed the bus, should why we allow our arch rivals (SPC) to become champions.” If you further analyse the two defeats that SJC underwent against WC & SPC, they (SJC) never allowed more than three tries two be scored against them. With RC, they gave away exactly 4 tries. One may could say that this was a coincidence. End of the day, a bad taste remains with people concerned. 

Why? 

1.If RC wanted to play their traditional 2nd leg match with TCK (within two weeks), Tournament Authority should have allowed a break for SPC on 15 June weekend. Instead, on that day, SPC played with IC.

2. On 22 June RC should have played with SJC and SPC should have played with IC.

3. On 29 June Grand Finale two No. 01 teams (after 1st round) to take stage, while RC took on IC on the same day.

Here is the million dollar question: who was this Tournament Authority or Tournament Secretary? 

It was none other than the Rugby M.I.C. of Royal College. That is why I claim RC had killed two birds with one stone. By playing the Bradby Shield second leg as played in the past (with one weekend gap), and also allowing RC to play the last match, violating the Rules of the tournament. 

Lessons to be learnt

1. Tournament Secretary of the SLSRFA should be an Independent person. He or she cannot be holding a post in a school where there is high stake for the championship. 

2. Authorities should know not to mix up tournament formats along with other traditional matches. 

3. Other traditional matches should have lesser priority, giving the top priority for the tournament matches. 

4. Going forward, all stakeholders (SLSRFA, School authorities etc.) should schedule these tournament matches carefully (without rushing), otherwise it will cause major misunderstandings among the general sports-loving public.