SCHOOLS’ RUGBY 2008. PRESS HAS ALREADY NAMED ITS BABES. AS USUAL, PARTIAL TREATMENT TO KANDY.

The School Rugby Season for 2008 is just kicking off. This week will see the first blood being drawn as, to my knowledge, at least 3 fixtures will go ahead between now and Saturday.

 

Going through last weekend’s English newspapers, however, we learn that “controversy” – arguably the winner of last season’s league [only second, maybe, to St Peter's] – is still lurking around the playing area. This time around, it is St. Peter’s who has decided to initiate matters by crying foul. Apparently, the SPC XV have been allocated 6 “Away” games and only 2 “Home” fixtures. All this had occured in the absence of their MIC had [for some reason or the other] failed to attend the draw. So, as to who is at fault is a matter inviting debate; but, my superstitious strain tells me that this might just be an early “knock on” and that the best “off field” rucks are yet to be.

 

Among other things that haven’t improved since last season (well, this has never improved and one doubts whether it will, ever, improve at all) is the unabashed bias shown to Colombo schools by the local press. The Sunday Times reporting on the season-to-be last Sunday, singles out five schools to be “top contenders” for the Division 1 plum this year. The schools thus privileged are St. Peter’s, Royal, St. Thomas’, Isipathana and Trinity.

 

Local rugby writers are pant-less in showing their Colombo bias

 

Of course, St Peter’s and Isipathana can well be the pre-season devils on the rampage this season after their sizzling moves last year — which, by all indications, they have carried into the present season. But, as to how the three members of the “Old Pals’ Club” – Royal, Thomas’ and Trinity – came in among the pre-season “top” teams is highly questionable. If at all, it only shows the elite bias our reporters and “experts” on rugby carry with them.

 

One column written by an expert on rugby. The column, very often, has an Old Tie bias.

 

 

Incidentally, five of the nine schools for Division 1are from Kandy and (except for Trinity) none gets mentioned in the above Sunday Times report. Kingswood, Vidyartha, St. Anthony’s, and Dharmaraja join the safari from Kandy and though it is easy for a Colombo 07 news journalist to converse with the Colombo schools, when reporting to the nation, you cannot / should not have such a lukewarm  agenda.

 

The press has always been lousy on Kandy — be it school’s rugby or club rugby. And this schools’ season one need not be surprised if the same show continues.  

 

Kandy’s games commence on the 24^th May with Kingswood taking on Royal at Bogambara.