The sponsorship package now really becomes a vital cog to make this happen. As Sri Lankan Rugby Clubs go, we are all not fortunate to have an open check book, so there is immense amount of work that goes behind the scenes in making reality happen.

The CR & FC is sponsored by Softlogic Holdings (Pvt) Ltd as its principle sponsor. Softlogic, owned by Ashoke Pathirage is a diverse global organization having its business enterprise in telecommunication and systems, computers and networking, hospitals, electronics, vehicles, condominiums and luxury residential apartments, and furniture to name a few. Softlogic is now a global organization with staff strength of 800 and an annual turnover of US $40m and offices in Australia, Pakistan and Singapore. They are powered by the best - Nokia (Finland), Dell Computers (USA), Panasonic & NEC (Japan) and Siemens (Germany).

The Co-Sponsor of CR & FC is no other than Dialog Telekom, the largest telecommunication conglomerate in Sri Lanka. Dialog Telekom now reaching their strengths into our homes via Dialog TV and Dialog broadband connectivity, have been a vital ingredient in the nurturing and improvement of club rugby via their sponsorships of Sri Lankan Rugby for more than 6 years. Although not sponsoring the SLRFU, they have repeatedly sponsored rugby clubs, such as CR & FC, Army Sports Club, Police Sports Club and Airforce Sports Club in the past, and after taking a one year’s break, have come back strongly again with sponsoring the Army Sports Club and CR & FC for the 2007 rugby season.

However, the unfortunate aspect is that the SLRFU due to the current structure of rugby, find it hard to work with the Clubs with various issues cropping up due to sponsorships. The Clubs too must give in to some extent and work with the SLRFU to try and achieve a common goal – Sri Lanka rugby. Caltex is doing a tremendous amount for Sri Lanka rugby which the Clubs don’t see a benefit. This is the crux of the matter, but the unfortunate issue is that Clubs tend to take this out on Caltex. Caltex have nothing to do with it, and have the right to request their fair share of return on equity – sponsorship of Sri Lanka Rugby. This year, the SLRFU started correctly by calling all the clubs individually for meetings with the Caltex prior to the seasons and some clubs worked out agreements that made it easier for a smoother operation during the season. These kinds of dialog need to happen more frequently in getting the SLRFU more closely linked to the clubs.

I am sure some people realize this, but if not for the sponsors of the SLRFU, Caltex and Singer, and sponsors of clubs such as Softlogic, Dialog Telekom, Hutchinson and Tritel, Ceylon Cold Stores, DHL and MBC Networks, and our Schools rugby, Singer and Suntel, rugby will be a dying sport in this country. Rugby, believe it or not, consistently attract a better spectator turnout than club cricket or regular school cricket matches (keep a side big matches amongst schools). Therefore, the following of rugby is tremendous in this country and has been for decades.

All rugby clubs need to start looking within themselves to realize what they need to compete with the best. At this stage, I could count a maximum of 2-3 clubs that have started on this journey; with two clubs a few steps ahead of the pace mainly due to their professional approach and the securing of the sponsorships to enable them achieve their respective goals. Unfortunately, the caliber of the current day rugby player is not the same as in past decades and the game is played more for financial survival than for the love of it. As Administrators of Clubs, we have to realize this and work with our sponsors to secure the relevant players at the relevant price.

However, this is where the SLRFU has to step in and monitor this process of semi-professionalism. They need to start looking into a system of salary caps which could be a maximum amount a club can pay their players as a total or individually, and contracts that have been maintained with the clubs and their respective players to be honored by the SLRFU. A complete re-thinking of the game and how it is administratively run needs to be thought, sought and done. The ultimate goal in mind should be Sri Lankan Rugby which is far from the thought of any current Rugby playing club. You have good players sitting on a bench, when they could have played for other clubs. You have 3-4 strong clubs, whilst the other clubs are simply not up to par. You have eight “A” division clubs, and maybe another eight “B” division clubs, but have a biased voting system in the SLRFU. This obviously leads to resentment among the Western Province clubs. You have sub par refereeing standards, that have not changed to the same level of the rugby standards and this is a huge problem to clubs. The referees too need to be paid a substantial amount, they should be fit, and most importantly, they should be respected and accountable. Currently, they are intimidated by crowds, not many of them have played at the highest level to command the respect from the current day players and some could have an inherent biasness towards clubs or schools.

Would the system working in Japan work in Sri Lanka! It’s a question to ask? Japanese rugby clubs are owned by companies and they become the club. The respective company will provide for all the needs, including running rugby and providing individual jobs. The rugby club becomes an integral part of the Company’s operations and thereby, a much better professional approach. Will this work for Sri Lanka rugby? Will Blue Chips in Sri Lanka be interested? What will club members and ardent fans think of loosing their identity of their Club’s rich history? Will Havelocks, CR or CH forego their historical past and move forward to a Singer, or John Keells or a MAS or a Dialog. Is this the answer to survive in Sri Lanka rugby? I am not too sure but some thought to it should be given.

The bottom line is that our authorities of rugby, the SLRFU need to re-think the method rugby is run administratively, use the funds received from the IRB and their sponsors constructively and thoughtfully and lead the change to accommodate the modern day game prevalent in Sri Lanka so that it will be beneficial ultimately for Sri Lankan Rugby.

Jehan CanagaRetna

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