Clubs usurp youth rugby ….

Sri Lanka Rugby Youth under 20 team that is being prepared for the Asian Championship is in a quandary, after their clubs had forced players to attend training ahead of the inter club league, which is scheduled to start on 20 November.

The club officials in a desperate attempt had forced youth players to avoid training with the junior team.
Junior head coach Sanath Martis speaking to us revealed that officials from Colombo based clubs were waiting outside the ground for the youth players where they had been training.
“It is a disappointment to see how these officials have forced these youth players (school leavers) to sign contracts with clubs even though they have still not taken the school leaving certificate. It is also a violation of the education ministry’s rules,” said Martis.

“In this condition players are not in a position to keep their mindset clear and give a hundred percent for national training. This is too much for youth players, because once they are done with training with the youth national team in the evening, they must attend the morning practices with the clubs on the following day,” the youth coach pointed out.
However, it is reported that Havelock SC and Police have taken a decision to release their players for national duty, but Navy SC and CR and FC so far have not shown any indication of releasing their players.