Violence in schools rugby raises its ugly head again

• Reputed Head Coach caught assaulting Peterite player

In a disturbing turn of events, Sanath Martis, the Head Coach of St. Peter’s College rugby, football team, was filmed attacking one of his players following a match played against Vidyartha College at Nittawela on Sunday. 

This incident marks the second time Martis has been recorded assaulting a player in public.

Previously, while serving as the Head Coach at Havelocks Sports Club, Martis faced a significant suspension from World Rugby after being caught on camera physically assaulting a Peterite player during a friendly practice match played against D.S. Senanayake at Havelock Park in 2019. His actions displayed in that incident drew widespread condemnation and scrutiny from the rugby community, given his role as a World Rugby Educator. A leading website named Colombo Telegraph published a series of articles on that incident including the video of Martis venting his frustration by slapping the Peterite rugby player on the sidelines of the rugby playing area.

However in this recent video, shared widely on several social media platforms on Sunday evening, shows Martis assaulting the Peterite team’s number 22 player after the conclusion of their league game played against Vidyartha in Kandy. Martis is viewed in the video footage walking briskly towards the player who was surrounded by his own teammates and is seen pointing his finger at the player first before going on to slap him on the face.

This incident demands an immediate investigation from St. Peter’s College, as both World Rugby and Asia Rugby are expected to closely examine the matter. 

A response is also expected from both the Sports Ministry and the Education Ministry as this act committed by Sanath Martis could be potentially considered as a criminal offense and a serious breach of World Rugby regulations. 

Schools Rugby League has been marred by multiple cases of violence

The current Schools Rugby League season has devolved into a spectacle of violence, with match officials being attacked and players engaging in dangerously aggressive behaviour on-field that referees have largely ignored. Adding to the turmoil, the World Rugby-appointed Educator, who is also the National Head Coach and the Head Coach of St. Peter’s College, has been caught committing a repeat offense by assaulting one of his own players.

While the violence occurs openly, another battle rages on several WhatsApp platforms where passionate supporters clash as fierce keyboard warriors. With the super round games approaching, emotions are bound to escalate among dedicated fans. Given the current intensity, there is enough evidence to suggest that these scenarios could potentially spill over, leading to physical confrontations at the grounds.

Is Sports Minister Harin Fernando waiting for a tragic incident to occur before tackling these urgent issues? Given the escalating violence, it appears that if these critical problems are not addressed promptly, he may ultimately be held accountable for the consequences.

Challenges plaguing school rugby highlight need for reform

The current state of school rugby in Sri Lanka reveals several critical flaws that need urgent attention. Sports Minister Harin Fernando’s decision to suspend the Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) board and place it under the Sports Ministry has further complicated matters. Although school rugby operates under World Rugby laws, the responsibility for its oversight now falls under the Education Ministry, given the tournament’s focus on school boys.

The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), tasked with organising the tournament, is struggling to manage it effectively. This season has been marred by disorganisation and a lack of accountability. Refereeing quality has plummeted, with numerous on-field errors by referees and touch judges becoming increasingly common. Many of these mistakes have been captured on video, yet there has been little action taken to address them. Even reports from Match Citing Officers, appointed by the SLSRFA to address these issues, have been inexplicably lost, hindering any potential disciplinary measures.

Compounding these problems is the shortage of certified officials, including referees, Match Commissioners, Citing Officers, and Television Match Officials (TMOs), which has further disadvantaged the players. The SLSRFA is struggling to find qualified personnel to support the numerous games played each weekend.

School boys pressured to deliver to help sustain coachs’ survival

The influx of substantial financial contributions from alumni and supporters to boost school rugby budgets has fostered a win-at-all-costs mentality. Significant sums are being spent on coaches and support staff, placing immense pressure on players to achieve results by any means necessary. There are allegations that certain schools are forcing supplements on their schoolboy players, with parents reporting that their children are lethargic at home and sometimes too tired and groggy to complete their academic studies. This approach undermines the core values that rugby is meant to teach and risks setting a damaging precedent for young athletes.  

These issues collectively indicate a pressing need for radical changes. It is crucial for the relevant authorities to address these problems to ensure that the primary objective of school rugby promoting sportsmanship and instilling strong values are not compromised.