Last weekend’s Plate Championship final that took place between Dharmaraja College and St. Joseph’s College concluded in an ugly manner, as a brawl broke out and later spilled out to the stands following a yellow card to a Dharmaraja player for advocating in dangerous play.
After the initial inquiry that took place yesterday at Royal College, the committee has taken steps to forward their recommendations to the Hon. Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam to make the final decision on the outcome of the inquiry.
The incident led to an independent inquiry being conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools’ Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) last morning. Initially, when ThePapare.com spoke with Denzil Darling, the secretary of the SLSRFA, he added that they were acting on the referees report and described that the yellow card shown to the #7 of Dharmaraja College had ignited the brawl.
Yellow card ignites brawl at the Dharmaraja v St Joseph’s game
The tense situation that occurred after the incident saw players of both teams being assaulted with the spectators too getting involved. Following the brawl, a few players from both teams are said to have been hospitalized while the school bus of St. Joseph’s had reportedly been stoned as well.
Speaking about the progress of the inquiry yesterday, Secretary of the SLSRFA Denzil Darling said “We looked at both parties and conducted the inquiry and tomorrow (23rd) we will be forwarding it (recommendations) to the Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and then the minister will decide what measures to take”
He further added, “Normally we give players or the masters-in-charge match bans but this is different from the past and is a very serious issue. We will thereby take action for the betterment of rugby in the country”
