Players lament lack of proper diet

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 23

“Nutrition for rugby players is huge. They are no cover models and they need fuel to run,” these words from famous English Rugby Union player James Haskell seem to have no takers at the ongoing Rugby Sevens Championship at the Panjab University grounds here.       

The participants have been put on a strict vegetarian diet and even eggs are not being served to them.    

“On Friday morning, the players were given aloo paratha, and then they were served rice, chapatti and pulses in lunch. The dinner was no different, only a vegetable dish was added to the menu. Today, we got oats in the breakfast and kidney beans in the lunch. This is not a proper and desirable diet for a rugby player,” a team manager said while requesting anonymity. 

“We are playing back to back matches and recovery is next to impossible with this diet. If the organisers wanted to keep it all vegetarian, there are many nutritious vegetables they could have served to the players,” added an international level player.

Even though Rugby India said it was “good to serve vegetarian food” to the players, the sports body blamed the local association for such diet.    

“Though it depends upon the availability of diet at the venue, it’s good to serve the vegetarian food to the players. Since the teams are staying at Panjab University, it’s up to the local mess contractor and the state association to handle the issue,” said a Rugby India official. 

When asked about the food being served to the players, the mess contractor said they were just following the orders from the organisers. 

“I have no objection in serving non-vegetarian food. I am providing players with the diet which the organisers had asked for. We will provide non-vegetarian food to the players participating in the Kayaking and Canoeing Championship later this month,” said the contractor.

A member of the organising committee, though, said they were trying their best to provide proper diet to the players despite a limited budget. 

“They will get cheese and halwa (sweet dish) tonight. We have a limited budget and everything is being done in consultation with Rugby India. We are not getting any grant, still we are looking after the players’ accommodation, food and transportation. Rugby India is taking care of water (80 gallons per day), ice and official fees,” said a member of the organising committee.

Bihar girls enter semis

Bihar girls drubbed Goa 22-0 to enter the semifinals of the sixth Rugby Sevens Senior National Championship at the Panjab University grounds on Saturday. Odisha blanked Delhi 24-0, while West Bengal were awarded a walkover against Tripura. In the men’s quarterfinals, West Bengal registered a 14-0 win over Tamil Nadu. Haryana beat Services 5-0, while Delhi dumped J&K 17-0. Maharatsra edged out Odisha 10-0.