• Webb Ellis Trophy to be flown in by sponsor Mastercard
• To be displayed at Race Course, CR&FC, and in Kandy

The Rugby World Cup “Webb Ellis” Trophy, scheduled to be flown down to the country for public viewing by its sponsor Mastercard on 18 February 2023, has already caused ripples and undercurrents, with both the sponsor Mastercard and the Ministry of Sports of Sri Lanka shunning the sports’ local body Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) from being part of its scheduled events.

It is common knowledge that the current relationship between the Ministry of Sports and SLR has been experiencing turbulent times, and Mastercard’s planned events in dealing directly with the Ministry of Sports, with no intimation made to SLR, is bound to further fuel and escalate the issues between the two.

SLR President Rizly Illyas, speaking to The Daily Morning Sports said: “Many parties are of the opinion that this event will be done as the initiative of Sri Lankan Rugby. The current rugby administration was suspended by a gazette issued by former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa. As this gazette wasn’t revoked, Asia Rugby suspended SLR. This suspension pertains only to Asia, therefore, we are permitted to participate in the Olympics. Even now, the World Rugby Union is referring to things like rugby law amendments with regard to us.

“Being the mother union, SLR has not been invited or given the opportunity to get involved in hosting the cup. But everybody thinks we are involved in the organisation of the cup. Even Cinnamon Garden police authorities came to the union office yesterday inquiring about the event, because they wanted to plan security procedures pertaining to the event, believing that the event is being organised by SLR.”

He further added: “Although the former Sports Minister and Asian Rugby Union suspended the Sri Lanka Rugby Union on the basis of an administrative problem, World Rugby has never taken such an initiative. This shows the real animosity and greed for power of several individuals who have been heads of SLR, and who have been trying their best to disrupt the elected body from 2020 onwards. We, SLR, stand strong with the elected members and the provincial unions, to be respected as the National Rugby Union, and it’s also disheartening to see how a major financial sponsor could oversee a union.”

Mastercard, who is planning to fly in the Webb Ellis Trophy in a private capacity, has offered the Ministry of Sports an opportunity to present it to the public on 18 February 2023 in Colombo and on 22 February 2023 in Kandy. 

The Ministry of Sports duly obliged, and in tandem with the Ministry of Education, have decided to send out invitations to schools for children to participate in the public viewings.

Meanwhile, Mastercard has also honoured a request made by CR&FC to have the Webb Ellis Trophy displayed at their club premise on 19 February 2023, as they continue with their centenary celebrations. 

Mastercard has also planned two private functions on 20 and 21 February.

However, it was last Friday (10) that a fake WhatsApp message was allegedly sent out by the Secretary of Sri Lanka Rugby, claiming that the National Sports Council of Sri Lanka is instrumental in bringing down the Rugby World Cup trophy to Sri Lanka. 

SLR, when contacted by The Daily Morning Sports, confirmed that they did not send the message even though the message is claimed to have been sent by the SLR Secretary.

However the country’s rugby parent body went on to state that they had contacted a person named Dilanjan Perera (Committee Member) on the provided mobile telephone number found in the message to verify more details regarding these planned events. 

When The Daily Morning Sports contacted Dilanjan Perera, he informed us that he is from the Sri Lanka Schools’ Rugby Football Union (SLSRFU), and went on to further state that the events were organised by the Sports Ministry, Mastercard, and FedEx.

When The Daily Morning Sports queried further to determine who the SLR person involved was, Perera stated that it was a member in the current National Sports Council 

However when The Daily Morning Sports contacted Secretary to the Ministry of Sports K. Manesan, he said: “This entire event was organised by MasterCard. Mastercard contacted us and wanted to know if we could get involved. We said it would be a wonderful opportunity for schoolchildren to be given the opportunity to see the World Cup trophy. We then contacted the Ministry of Sports and they have now appointed a committee to organise the events.”

When the Secretary was asked why SLR had not been included despite being the parent body of the sport in Sri Lanka, he said: “I’m not aware of the exact reason for their exclusion.”