Rugby development programme was a tremendous success

M. Farook Lantra

RUGBY: The Rugby Development Programme for year 2006 was a great success. It was conducted by the Rugby Development Committee (Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union - SLRFU).

The success of this crash rugby development programme was due to the efforts of Yu Cey Chang who is the livewire behind this rugby development programme with the blessings of the SLRFU. Chang has tons of experience for more than three decades, as a national player, coach, captain who has brought fame and honour to his motherland. Still rowing the rugby boat without giving up the tasks assigned by SLRFU and still promoting the rugby in this country voluntarily as Chairman Rugby Development.

A past pupil of Trinity College, Kandy is a dedicated Rugby Football Administrator who was also the past president of SLRFU who had served the most number of years as a president from 1985-1988, more than any other president.

This year under Chang's administration development had seen more than 8,000 boys and girls participating for the train the trainers programme which was worked off in seven provinces in this country, they are Western Province, Sabaragamuwa, North Central, Central, Wayamba and Southern.

This programme was launched to teach young blood from grassroots level, also training the teachers and masters in charge of rugby playing schools and at the end of the day's development programme a rugby ball was presented for master in charge of all participating schools. Sarath Ranaweera (Manager, National Rugby Development), said that this year the most number of participants were from down south, one of the worst affected by the 2004 tsunami.

These participants from Southern Province should be appreciated for coming in their numbers for training with great hearted effort as most of them who had lost their homes, parents, brothers and sisters and should appreciate Kumar Abeywardana (President, Ruhunu RFU) for the immense services rendered for the development of rugby, also Sarath Ranaweera (Manager, National Rugby Development) for his tremendous effort.

Also there was a good turn out of participants taking part in this programme from Central Province, Sabaragamuwa and Uva.

Sarath further said that in January 2007 a training programme also will be conducted in the appropriate provinces for small kids under 8, 9 and 10 years of age, and he will monitor this and see whether they perform in the correct way which will be followed by one day meeting with the Masters in charge and PTIs.

The main object on this on-going development programme to take 400 schools from each province and train again and form district associations in their respective provinces and from each district under-10, under-12, 14, 16 and 18 age group district tournaments will be conducted and after this tournament the officials will select the best six schools to participate in the all-island rugby competition which is conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, concluded Sarath (National Manager, Rugby Development, SLRFU).