Exciting fare at Schools Rugby

Achala Ramanayake

As the schools cricket season comes to an end all local sports lovers will be awaiting the upcoming schools rugby season which will kick off on April 24. Like last year Rugby Fans are hoping to witness some thrilling encounters.

Last year’s League Champs Kingswood College will be playing in Division one segment ‘A’ along with formidable sides such as Isipathana, St. Peters, Royal, St. Thomas, Trinity, St. Joseph’s and Mahanama.

In the All Island 7’s Tournament this year. Kingswood and Trinity showed their supremacy in Colombo by beating some top schools which participated in the tournament and met each other at the finals.

Although Kingswood managed to win the tournament. Trinity players showed fighting qualities. This shows both these schools from Kandy will be out to give a formidable challenge to the other schools from Colombo which are drawn into Segment ‘A’ of the league tournament.

Eventhough St. Peter’s, Royal and St. Thomas did not participate in the All Island Sevens Tournament they will be looking forward to do well in the league tournament this year as these three teams have the ability, skills and the commitment to reach the top as they have shown in the recent past.

St. Peters won the league trophy for two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007. As kingswood won the trophy in 2008, St. Peters’ will be targeting to regain the trophy this year.

Isipathana College another side that maintained their supremacy throughout will be also looking forward to show their colours this season. As the lads from Havelock Park will meet the strong St. Peter’s side in the tournament opener which will be played at St. Peters’ College Grounds, Bambalapitiya while Arch-rivals Royal will meet St. Thomas in Mount Lavinia for the Gunaratne Trophy.

Also in the opening week Kingswood will be playing against Mahanama in Bogambara and Trinity will be playing against St. Joseph’s in Pallekele. It will be an advantage to the two Kandy teams to play the tournament opener in their home conditions. St. Joseph and Mahanama got promoted to play in the segment ‘A’ this year as they performed really well in stegmant ‘B’ last year. These two teams will face tough task, as to stay in the segment ‘A’. They need to perform really well throughout the season.

Apart from these teams segment ‘B’ comprises with several formidable teams such as Wesley, Thurstan, Dharmaraja, Vidyartha, Prince of Wales, Science and Ananda which also will be looking forward for competitive and thrilling schools rugby season this year.