Trouble mounted for Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Odisha Rugby Football Association (ORFA) as Jammu & Kashmir Rugby Association (JKRA) joined Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM), raising objections to ORFA fielding its U-18 girls team in the recently concluded Junior National Rugby 7s Championship without conducting the mandatory inter-district championship and IRFU allowing the participation of the Odisha team, giving a one-time waiver to ORFA.
The Odisha girls team finished runners-up in the said National championship, losing to Bihar in the final after winning the semifinals against Maharashtra, which played under protest. In its protest letter IRFU, which is also known as Rugby India, RAM pointed out that ORFA fielded its team violating the rules laid down in the participation agreement. The violation of rules occurred as picked players through a trial camp instead of the mandatory inter-district tournament.
But the IRFU decision to give ORFA a one-time waiver to participate in the Junior Nationals without conducting inter-districts raised eyebrows as the reasons it cited were not supported by authentic documents.
Replying to the RAM protest letter, IRFU claimed that ORFA was unable to conduct the inter-district meet due to prevailing heatwave situation in the State. It also claimed that ORFA could not get permission from the State Government to conduct the inter-districts and did the selection via trials, a decision which was accepted by the government, Odisha Olympic Association and all affiliated district units.
But JKRA has put IRFU think-tank, headed by president and film actor Rahul Bose, in serious trouble by seeking copies communications, circulars and directives made by IRFU, ORFA, its district units, State Government and OOA on the heatwave, selection trial and the one-time waiver decision.
JKRA has also sought reply from IRFU on two important questions so that all can get a clear picture on the issue.
1. Why did IRFU not ask ORFA to conduct the state championship late in June (after the heatwave if so) and just give a direct waiver? Many States, where the climate was very hot, conducted inter-districts towards the end of June to avoid the same.
2. Why did IRFU not communicate about the decision of one-time waiver to ORFA to all member States before?
It is surprising that IRFU, which showed promptness in communicating its decision to RAM on giving waiver to ORFA, has remained silent on clarifications sought by JKRA. But the silence has not only weakened the stand of IRFU further, but also brought more evidence of its alleged worng-doings to the fore.
Meanwhile, giving date-wise reference of decisions and communications by IRFU and ORFA, the Maharashtra State body has alleged that ORFA had no plans, interest or intention to host an inter-district competition especially since the dates for the selection trials and camp were already announced even before intimating IRFU or being granted the waiver.
Countering the IRFU claim that ORFA could not conduct the inter-districts due to heatwave, RAM wondered how other sports events, including the U15 Inter-District Football Championship for Chief Minister Trophy, the OCA U19 Inter-District Men Cricket Tournament and Odisha State Junior Basketball Championship were conducted during the same period?
The rugby controversy has become a hot topic in Odisha with people getting curious about the sport and its governance in the State. Especially the role of a private educational institute, that allegedly controls rugby and uses it for business promotion, has come under scrutiny.
With IRFU elections scheduled to be held in September this year, the controversy has also indicated a shake up in the administrative level of the National governing body.
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PHOTO: File picture of office-bearers and promoters of IRFU and ORFA after the elections of the National governing body in 2021.