Sri Lanka divided after rugby ‘coach from hell’ slaps teen – World Rugby steps in

Sri Lanka’s rugby community is in a frenzy of deep soul-searching after footage emerged of a World Rugby-appointed high school “coach from hell” slapping a player three times in a show of high-handed discipline during a training session. While the actions of the widely respected St Peter’s College coach Sanath Martis elicited the usual storm of outrage on social media – especially by mothers who allow their sons to play rugby – a number of disciplinarians and toughened former players found nothing wrong with the punishment. The beating was reportedly a result of the player kicking a teammate – and on Thursday Martis was suspended from coaching at St Peter’s and top club Havelocks pending an investigation about a week after the video went viral. Hong Kong Sevens: 43 days and counting, here’s five things you need to know High-profile athletes such as ex-national cricketer Mahela Jayawardene and a former Fiji international who played in Sri Lanka, have chimed in and criticised Martis.’ action while commentators pondered why the nation was so divided on the issue. “On one side are aunties, bleeding hearts, civil rights champions et al who are outraged or at the very least shocked or surprised,” wrote Sri Lanka FT Online columnist Wijith DeChickera. “On the other are tough-minded philosophers such as contact sports fans, old boys who’ve played rugby for their respective schools and those who say they believe in discipline or corporal punishment or a healthy combination of the two. Singapore Sevens ‘better than Hong Kong’ in World Rugby evaluation as city state gloats going ‘one up’ on Asian rival “Take which side as you may; the slaps that went viral have raised more questions than armchair warriors can possibly answer. Is it conscionable to hit a ward or charge in order to discipline them? Or is corporal punishment often a thinly veiled attempt to argue the ‘end justifies the means’ case? Would the rugger network be defending the coach in question if his unorthodox methods didn’t guarantee results – read, victory – as they reputedly do?” @AP9_ anything you can assist on #SriLanka beloved #rugby coach #SanathMartis @ThePapareRugby pic.twitter.com/4qkDcHQxvO — Jay Goonetilleke (@JayGoonetilleke) February 21, 2019 The video shows the coach calling the player over to the sidelines. He then slaps the player on the face with his right hand twice. Martis then appeared to tell the player to move closer, and slaps him again, before letting him go. The player did not protest nor flinch throughout the incident, which lasted a few seconds. Although most of the online reaction was against the coach, many social media posts backed Martis, whose Havelocks team are top of Sri Lanka’s elite Dialog League. Love in the rucks: two couples talk romance, and falling for rugby, on Valentine’s Day Among the big names to defend Martis is former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the brother of ex-Prime Minister Mahinda who was one of the key figures in the victorious war against the Tamil Tigers 10 years ago. Local media reported Rajapaksa as saying that students who have been punished in the past have gone on to become leaders in society. He added that punishing students ensured a positive and not negative future for the country. Sanath Martis (like most rugby coaches) is a coach from hell. All the players who has coached under him knows that and they are greatful for that. You cant really play rugby if you cant take few hits. Try carrom. — BATMAN (@ChamaraVFX) February 15, 2019 He also found a supporter in Jay Goonetilleke, a US politician and Republican activist of Sri Lankan origin, who said he wrote a letter for World Rugby’s vice-president Agustin Pichot, saying people are jealous of Martis’ success as a school and club coach. One Twitter user described Martis as a “coach from hell” but said his students appreciated his strict values. ‘We need to look inward now’: Hong Kong rugby community forced to pivot for sport’s future However, Shiranti Haputantri reflected the views of many more when she wrote: “It doesn’t matter what the player has done, there’s a way to take disciplinary action, thrashing a child is not the way to it. This kind of nonsense should not be tolerated at all. I hope this nasty man will not be hired by anyone until he get his act together.” Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Jayawardene, who scored 11,814 runs in 149 tests, became embroiled in Twitter exchanges against some Martis supporters. I am sorry.. I had teaches and coaches who thought me values but didn’t hit me.. Martinez is a very good coach and I have respect for him.. but better ways to teach kids values. That’s my point. https://t.co/xBMsdEgJWU — Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) February 15, 2019 Responding to a Twitter user who said it was merely a teacher disciplining a student, Jayawardene said: “I am sorry. I had teachers and coaches who taught me values but didn’t hit me. [Martis] is a very good coach and I have respect for him … but better ways to teach kids values.” Jim Bolakoro, a former Fiji rugby league player who worked with Martis during a stint in Sri Lanka more than 10 years ago, said he considered the coach a friend and a “wonderful gentleman” but said his actions were unjustified. Ben Ryan in talks for a movie on Fiji sevens Olympic journey: Five actors who could play part of history-making English coach “My brothers we have to be careful, the international body is watching us,” he wrote. “If we compromise and try and defend my friend SM we are not helping him and his situation. “I wish SM all the best, whatever decision [World Rugby] takes and I’m 120% behind SM that Lanka will make good use of the rugby brain he’s got.”

Sri Lanka divided after rugby ‘coach from hell’ slaps teen – World Rugby steps in

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Sanath Martis is suspended a week after a viral video emerged showing him disciplining a player by hitting him on the face three times

Sanath Martis is suspended a week after a viral video emerged showing him disciplining a player by hitting him on the face three times