With the inclusion of Rugby into the Olympic programme, the sport seems to have gain a new standing in some parts of the world.Already many national rugby associations have put up long term plans with the hope that their team will be among the history-makers in the 2016 games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced that Rugby 7s and Golf would be part of the 2016 games programme.
Rugby's inclusion is surely a victory for the International Rugby Board (IRB) which worked very hard to convince IOC that their sport deserves to be in the games.
The IRB's plan was to get all the regional bodies involved and among the hardest working group was the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) of which, Malaysia's Ramesh Lachmanan (picture) was actively involved. Looks like there was a Malaysian connection in Rugby's victory.
Ramesh is the Honorary Secretary of the Malaysia Rugby Union (MRU) and also the council member of ARFU, in addition to being a member of the committee entrusted to create awareness about Rugby's plans to be in the Olympic Games.
"The ARFU committee compiled data from all 26 member countries and passed it on to IRB and the world body came up with an excellent document that was submitted to IOC," said Ramesh, an ex-international who started playing Rugby in 1984 in Klang High School.
Besides the push to get the sport into the Olympics, Ramesh, 38, was also involved in lobbying for the World Cup to be held in Asia. In July 2009, the IRB officially accepted the bid by Japan to host the 2019 World Cup, thanks to the support by ARFU.
"Now Asia is getting the attention and we believe it will go a long way in making Rugby, especially the 7s, a popular sport in the continent,"said Ramesh who now has a close relationship with IRB Regional Development Director, Jarrad Gallagher and the Secretary General of ARFU, Ross Mitchell.
Because of his contribution to ARFU and also his close ties with the top officials, Ramesh has been appointed Judicial Officer for ARFU Tournaments, the first non expat to be given the honor.
Malaysia also is expected to gain with the new status of Rugby as an Olympic sport. For a start the ARFU has recognised the Borneo 7s that will be held in Kota Kinabalu (31 Oct-1 Nov) as a Asian 7s Circuit Event. The top 12 teams in Asia will participate in this tournament.
"We are working towards getting the Borneo 7s to be given Satelite event status, just like the Hong Kong 7s. Once that happens, we will see great things happening in our local Rugby secene," said Ramesh, a lawyer.
Ramesh has one ambition - to have Rugby played professionally in Malaysia. "It is not impossible. Now we have over 200 clubs all over the country and many are already having foreign players and at their own expenses. The leagues are also active.
"I believe the foundation is already there and Rugby is a popular sport in schools and most districts. I am sure Malaysia will have a pro league in the near future," added Ramesh who represented the country from 1990-2005.
"We in MRU will surely work hard to improve Rugby. Our President (Datuk Muhiddin Abdullah) is a very committed leader."
Another Malaysian doing well internationally. Keep it up. We need more people like you.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations MRU and well done Ramesh. I think Rugby 7s is a great sport for Malaysians. So go for it. Get the MSSM, MSN, ISN and KBS all involved in a well co-ordinated national program. If there is total teamwork, we will surprise even overselves!
ReplyDeleteJust a quick heads up Rugby 7s hasn't actually made it all the way to the Olympics. What has happen is that Rugby 7s and Golf have been nominated and will be voted on by the 106 IOC delegates on the 9th of October and if two thirds of the delegates say yes to it then it is in the 2016 games.
ReplyDeleteInteresting blog and the Asian rugby set up