Excitement peaks as schools U19 rugby season 2024 set to kick off in Feb.

By Shamseer Jaleel

Rugby enthusiasts and school sports fans alike are gearing up for the much-anticipated commencement of the Under-19 rugby season in 2024. With action-packed tournaments, league matches, knockout rounds on the horizon and the shorter version of the game, the upcoming season promises to be a thrilling spectacle for rugby across the nation which is expected to commence in February 2024.

The festivities will kick off with the Sevens tournament, scheduled to take place in Colombo and Kandy on 22 and 23 February. This fast-paced and dynamic version of the game is sure to set the tone for an electrifying season ahead, showing the agility, speed, and teamwork of the young talents on display and most looked forward to by the majority of the rugby loving spectators.

Following the Sevens extravaganza, the League matches are scheduled to commence after the GCE Ordinary Level examinations in May 2024, where the first-year players would be engaged. It will commence from 10 June and will end on 18 August, creating a summer of rugby excitement. The tournament structure has undergone a transformation this year, featuring two groups of eight teams each, with a total of 16 schools vying for supremacy on the rugby field. There will be a Super Round after Round 1. The top two teams from each group will face off in this high-stakes round, adding an extra layer of competition and ensuring that only the best of the best advance to the later stages of the tournament. Among the participating schools are rugby powerhouses such as Trinity, St. Thomas’, St. Anthony’s, Dharmaraja, Sumangala, Kingswood, Vidyartha, St. Joseph’s, Royal, St. Peter’s, D.S. Senanayake, Zahira, Wesley and Thurstan.

As the League progresses, the excitement will reach a fever pitch in September as the Knockout rugby between the top eight school teams are scheduled.

The schools participating in this year’s tournament bring with them a rich history and a legacy of producing top-tier rugby talent. As they clash on the rugby fields, the nation will witness not only the physical prowess of these young athletes but also the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that makes school rugby a unique and cherished tradition in Sri Lanka.

Defending champions of the League and knock out tournaments are with St. Peter’s College while the shorter version of the game is under the custody of Isipathana College.