CH&FC threaten to quit league

[systemoad]

One of Colombo’s leading clubs CH and FC is threatening to pull out of the 2006 league rugby season after learning that one of their players, Fijian Jimmy Bolakoro, will not be granted approval by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football (SLRFU) to play.The club, which is listed to take on Havelocks in an opening match tomorrow, will meet at an emergency session today to take a final ruling on the matter.

Last week CH sought approval from the SLRFU to register Bolakoro as a player after the sports ministry gave the green light for foreign residents to play for Sri Lanka in accordance with International Rugby Board (IRB) rules.

The IRB rules state that a country could deploy foreigners in its team provided the said players have lived in their adopted country for a minimum of three years. Bolakoro played for CH and FC for two successive seasons before the SLRFU outlawed foreigners from the club scene two years ago. But Bolakoro stayed back in Sri Lanka.

“We are in receipt of a letter dated May 25 from the SLRFU signed by executive director Dilroy Fernando stating that the IRB has requested further information with regard to Bolakoro and we have been told to refrain from fielding the said player”, said CH’s rugby committee member Rizly Illyas.

Illyas said they were suspicious of the SLFRU as a request by them for a copy of the clarification sought by the IRB was turned down by Fernando.

“We will have to seek a postponement of our games until the SLFRU receives clarification from the IRB”, said Illyas.

Illyas said Police and Kandy also protested against Bolakoro playing for CH at a tournament committee meeting which was in contrast to his selection by the SLRFU into the pool for the recent match against Hong Kong.

But SLRFU president Priyantha Ekanayake said Bolakoro was subsequently taken out from the Sri Lanka pool after they learnt that the player had broken his minimum three year qualification stay in the country by going back to Fiji for a seven month lay-off.“We have fought hard to get the approval of the sports ministry to play foreigners in the Sri Lanka team and we have no intention of blocking overseas players from playing for clubs. But everything must be within the rules”, said Ekanayake


pretty bad eh? They are gonna lose bigtime without Bolakoro.. this dude's got a nice name

 

[deffa]

foriegn players mus be allowd in teams if we need to impove our rugby...if we dont let them play its hard to go forward..evev the all blacks hav foriegn players....rocokoco(i dnt no da spellings)....bad scen for SL rugby..

 

[BUA]

foriegn players mus be allowd in teams if we need to impove our rugby...if we dont let them play its hard to go forward..evev the all blacks hav foriegn players....rocokoco(i dnt no da spellings)....bad scen for SL rugby..

Deffa in diz case I'm not agrre with u. Because u know itz not necessary to bring foregin players from Fiji, Tonga o samoa. we dun mind their particitipation for Club rugby arena. But.itz not necessary to insert foregin players in to our national side,....We have to find financial support for improve rugby all over da island. y do we depends on players of suthern pasific countries?

 

[systemoad]

but machan if other clubs are using foreign players everyone should have the right to do so..but clearly in this case it's not about taking sides..the guy has violated his rights and they're banning him from the local rugby scene for a period of time.

 

[BUA]

but machan if other clubs are using foreign players everyone should have the right to do so..but clearly in this case it's not about taking sides..the guy has violated his rights and they're banning him from the local rugby scene for a period of time.

Defenately machan, CH cant go beyond da prodesures anyway. but da point dat i was tried to make waz, foregin players are not necessary for national team. other thing is if Jims particitipation, SLRFU should sllow to others to do the same..