Is There a Rugby Witch Hunt On?

Last evening, I was reliably informed that the Army and Navy top brass – the very top brass – had indicated that both Rohitha Rajapaksha and his elder brother and national captain Yoshitha Rajapaksha should not continue to play for the Army and Navy teams and that they be relieved of their captaincies. As a result it is unlikely that Rohitha will captain the team this week against a resurgent Air Force.

Yoshitha has been MIA from the Navy team for the last couple of games, although he was present at Welisara for their big win over his younger brother’s team last week. Navy won the game easily, playing a sort of rugby that will have even league leaders Kandy SC a little worried. They had Sajith Saranga and Sharo Fernando on the flanks with Dhanushka Perera coming in off the bench. It’s difficult to argue with that flank forward combination.

The top brass are reportedly stating that orders from ‘above’ have insisted that they don’t play. This comes as a little difficult to believe, given that the 100 day program is in full swing and President Sirisena or PM Wickremesinghe will have bigger fish to fry than Club rugby.

I inquired about the matter from Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake and he was very forthright in the fact that no instructions had been given to either of the Forces chiefs and that this was entirely and ‘internal matter’ for both the Army and the Navy.

The official denial from Dissanayake is a good sign. If the GoSL had in fact imposed itself on a Club rugby team to disenfranchise the Rajapaksha brothers of their jerseys, then that is not good. And would be tantamount to a witch hunt and harassment. This is exactly what we deplored about the previous administration and the sport should not tolerate it from the new one. Minister Dissanayake has categorically denied any interference.

It is then necessary to ask why both Forces Commanders have involved themselves in an issue that should be well below their radar. Apart from attending games, it is difficult to see what input the Commander of the Army or Navy should have in the running of the rugby team and who should play or not play. There involvement therefore is a little concerning?

Regardless of their former identities as Presidential offspring, they are now just rugby players, and should be treated with the fairness that all other rugby players should expect. That is to say that if you play for the Army or the Navy, then only the coach should be allowed to drop you or select you for the side. Not the Commander who ideally should not be involved in team selection unless he is a selector.

In response to this unfairness, there is a small possibility that some members of the teams may register their displeasure by not practicing, or – god forbid – refusing the play the weekend’s games. Hopefully, this will not come to pass and this matter can be resolved before game day. Ideally, it should be resolved by the Commander telling each coach, Mothilal Jayathilaka and Leonard De Zilwa or Army and Navy respectively, that they can pick whoever they want. Chances are that both coaches, after closely being associated with both Yoshitha and Rohitha, will not want to take the responsibility of picking another player over their previously guaranteed starters. Given the cast of actors in the drama, it appears to be a case of cowardice, rather than political manipulation.

Either way, regardless of their merits as players, both brothers should be eligible for selection. The only thing that determines their eligibility should be their ability and not any influence from persons outside the team, regardless of how well placed they are. Allowing the experts to make the decision is a sign of good governance. The wielding of authority is not good governance.

However, this plays out, it is very likely to expose those who want to have their cake and eat it.