Sri Lanka Rugby in Disarray

• Malaysia reinforce Fijian firepower for April 19 showdown

By: Allaam Ousman

As Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) braces for a high-stakes playoff against Malaysia on April 19, preparations appear worryingly disjointed, especially as news filters through that Malaysia will be bolstered by their naturalised Fijians Samuela Tamanisau and Etonia Vaqa Saukuru.

Despite knowing about this fixture well in advance, SLR’s build-up has been far from convincing, raising serious concerns about the team’s readiness for this crucial encounter.

The captain of the Malaysian national rugby team Syarif Nurhidayat Muzhaimey said his squad has gelled well in training so far and is hoping they can execute their game plan well against Sri Lanka.

“We have completed a number of phases of training camps in preparation for this playoff and we have shown a lot of improvement,” said Syarif before the team’s departure.

“Our players have shown better understanding among each other with each camp. The younger players have also improved a lot.” “My hope is that we will have a strong connection on the pitch against Sri Lanka and play cohesively as a unit.

We must do our best to execute the tactics and pattern plays which have been planned by our coaches and hopefully avoid any injuries.”

Malaysia last played Sri Lanka during the ARC Division One competition in 2017. Malaysia won the match 22-9 with the help of at least four naturalised Fijians in the squad.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has named a 35-member squad for the game against Malaysia. The squad will be trimmed to 25.

Last year Malaysia played six internationals winning against Singapore 47-7 at home while losing 19-62 vs the United Arab Emirates (away), 6-70 vs Hong Kong (home), 5-55 vs Korea Republic (away), 9-88 vs Hong Kong (away) and 3-27 vs Korea Republic (away).

Sri Lanka played two international last year winning 45-7 vs Kazakhstan (away) and 45-10 vs India (home). Former SLR President and Asia Rugby Executive Committee Member Asanga Seneviratne, however, played down fears over the team’s lack of international match practice during a media conference. Dismissing these concerns, he maintained that the team’s preparation strategy follows a familiar pattern.

“It’s not accurate to say we haven’t played enough,” he asserted. “This is how it has always been - you give the players rest, select the best squad, run a few quality sessions and go into the game sharp. We’ve done this before,” he stated. Seneviratne remained optimistic, suggesting Malaysia’s strategy of naturalising foreign players may not be a decisive factor. Reflecting on their narrow loss to Malaysia previously, he recalled:

“Even when they had five Fijians in their line-up, we only lost by a couple of points,” he said. Head Coach Sanath Martis, too, exuded confidence, though perhaps overly so given the circumstances. Addressing injury concerns, particularly to star player Tarinda Ratwatte, Martis downplayed the setbacks.

“Injury is part of rugby - we have to deal with it,” he stated. “We have good depth in our pool. If someone is injured, we allow them proper recovery. We’ll rely on the doctors’ advice for Tarinda but we remain hopeful.” Despite their optimism, it is difficult to ignore that Malaysia Rugby (MR) seems far better prepared and methodical in their approach.

Unlike SLR, which assembled an unwieldy squad of 70 players, MR is focussing on targeted reinforcements to strengthen their side with precision. Analysts have criticised SLR’s approach, arguing that a more focused, 40-member pool should have been finalised right after the first round of the league concluded. Instead, resources were spread too thin for a one-off, make-or-break clash.

Beyond the field, administrative turmoil continues to cast a long shadow over SLR. Competent Authority Shemal Fernando candidly addressed the situation, acknowledging that Sri Lanka’s fate lies partly in the hands of the Courts. With a crucial Court of Appeal hearing scheduled for April 28 concerning contempt charges, Fernando laid bare the chaotic backdrop against which the team prepares.

He recounted the series of events that plunged SLR into crisis: “The issues go back to 2023, when both Asia Rugby and World Rugby urged intervention to fix deep-rooted irregularities. The Court’s directives were clear — the President had to step aside, interim leadership was appointed, and the Ministry was tasked to support smooth administration. We fulfilled those orders immediately,” Fernando explained.

However, the impasse over the adoption of the new Constitution continues to stall progress. While a conclave involving World Rugby, Asia Rugby, and local stakeholders reviewed the proposed amendments in December, final adoption remains elusive.

“Unfortunately, there are still forces within the provincial unions and certain individuals holding SLR hostage,” Fernando admitted, hinting at the political undercurrents paralysing the sport. With World Rugby’s final deadline of June 15 looming,

Sri Lanka Rugby finds itself racing against time - both on and off the field. The uncertain status of the AGM and legal entanglements offer no clarity on what lies ahead for the sport in the country. If administrative paralysis persists, Sri Lanka risks deeper isolation on the global stage.

For now, the focus shifts to April 19. But amid the optimism of Seneviratne and Martis, the reality is stark: Sri Lanka Rugby enters this clash underprepared, administratively unstable, and facing an opponent that has not only done its homework but appears tactically and strategically superior. Whether sheer belief and last-minute heroics can compensate remains to be seen.