Milo School Rugby 2019: SLR and SLSRFA meet today

Peterites favored to win the Milo President trophy knock out 2019

 Underdogs Wesley can spring a surprise 

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) will meet the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Foootball Association (SSRFA) today in order to agree and continue the remaining rugby encounters of the Milo President Trophy 2019 finals. 

This meeting is due to take place in relation to the incidents at the Joes vs. Royal (League) and St. Peter’s vs. Isipathana Knockout) encounters soon after the final whistle, where the hosts failed to give protection to the referee/players.

The Royal vs. Joes encounter, which was hosted by Royal College, saw one of the Joes players assaulting referee Priyantha Gunaratne. The other incidents occurred at the Isipathana vs. Peterite encounter, where the tempers of players from both schools went out of control from the kick onwards. This encounter was hosted by SLSRFA which failed to give protection to the players as the crowd ran on to the ground soon after the completion of the encounter.

Until a meeting is held today and a possible solution is arrived at, the national body SLR has temporarily suspended the referees from blowing any schools rugby games. 

The Milo President’s Trophy final encounter between St. Peter’s College and Wesley College which is scheduled for 20 July is now likely to shift to the Sugathadasa Stadium where spectators cannot enter the playing area soon after the game and better security can be provided for the players and officials. 

The other two segments, Chairman and Premier Trophy finals, are likely to be worked off on 19 July at the Sugathadasa Stadium.