Kandy pulls out of Clifford Cup

By Shamseer Jaleel

Clifford Cup, the most prestigious and oldest club knock out rugby tournament, will kick off later this month in Colombo at Racecourse Grounds. Kandy, the defending champions, pulled out of the tournament due to their request to host their three games at Nittawela Rugby Stadium not being approved.

Kandy wrote to Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) 3 days ago, requesting all their three matches to be played at Nittawela. Sri Lanka Rugby, who met at an Administration meeting, decided not to charge any entrance fee for spectators for the Kandy and Colombo games, but did not change their stance on the Kandy venue of Pallekele. Now Air Force who was to meet Kandy in the first game will get a walk over.

History of the Clifford Cup

The oldest rugby tournament in Asia, the Clifford Cup commenced in 1911 and has been played continuously since 1950, having completed 79 seasons. In 1911 Lady Elizabeth Clifford (the wife of the acting Governor of Ceylon, Sir Hugh Clifford) was interested in the annual rugby football fixture, Colombo versus Up Country, and expressed her wish that a match take place in Colombo on her birthday, 26 August, between teams representing the United Services and All Ceylon.

This time, the Clifford Cup was awarded to the winner of a quadrangular tournament between four teams, mainly Low Country, Up Country, Ceylonese, and United Services. The competition then continued until 1938, when it was disrupted by the advent of the Second World War.

From 1950 onwards, the Clifford Cup was handled by Central Province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU). In 1985 Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) decided to award the Clifford Cup to the winners of a separate knock-out tournament, conducted amongst the ‘A’ Division Clubs, held at the end of the regular season.

In 1992, the Clifford Cup final was held in Kandy at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium, the first time the cup final was played outside of Colombo since 1957, at which Kandy SC defeated Police SC 22/9. This was the first Cup win for the Up Country Club after being in existence for over 100 years.

The Cup final, since 1992, has been held in Kandy, with the exception being in 2006 when it was switched back to Colombo, resulting in Kandy SC withdrawing from that year’s competition in protest.

In 2014, the Clifford Cup tournament was played in February/March, shifting from its traditional dates in the September/October period, resulting in no competition being played in 2013.

Kandy Sports Club has won the Clifford Cup a record 21 times, including a consecutive period of ten years between 1995 and 2005 (the competition was not held in 1998) and six consecutive years between 2007 and 2012. In 2006 the Kandy Sports Club and Navy SC both withdrew from the tournament (Kandy due to dispute over the ground allocation and Navy as their members were called up for national service duty), the Cup was won by the CR & FC. CR & FC have won it 14 times, including a tie with Dimbulla ACC; Havelock SC have won 13 times including a tie with Police SC; Police SC 8 times with ties against Havelock SC and Army SC; CH & FC 7 times; Dimbulla A & CC twice including a tie with CR & FC; Army SC twice with one tie with Police SC; whilst Air Force SC and Navy SC have only won the cup once.



Quarter finals (All matches at Racecourse grounds)

March 15

CR & FC vs. Police SC

March 16

Kandy SC vs. Air Force (walkover for Air Force as Kandy pulled out)

CH & FC vs. Army SC

March 17

Havelock SC vs. Navy SC



Semi-finals 

March 19 and March 21 



Final 

March 24