President’s Trophy Knockout Rugby to kick off sans four leading teams

By Shamseer Jaleel

The President’s Trophy Knockout Rugby Tournament 2024 will finally kick off today minus four leading schools already pulling out citing various reasons. 

Royal, Trinity, Vidyartha, and St. Joseph’s are the teams which have already pulled out, and now the tournament is off colour with interest among spectators decreasing very rapidly. The saddest part is that the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SSRFA) is yet to schedule this tournament to attract all major top division school teams. Trinity and Royal pulled out due to the Bradby Shield encounters on 24 August and 7 September, which they would never forgo for a knockout event. Further, Joes and Vidyartha after receiving the berths due to Trinity and Royal pulling out, cited injury of their players and stayed away from joining the scrum. 

Meanwhile, Thomians too pulled out, but according to a reliable source, they will lock horns in the tournament against Zahira College in one of the quarter-final encounters. The winner of this match will play Isipathana in one of the semi-final encounters.

Meanwhile, the DS vs Wesley winner will meet defending champions St. Peter’s in the other semi-final encounter.

Quarter-finals (Sugathadasa Stadium)

30 August.

St. Peter’s bye

DS Senanayake vs Wesley at 4 p.m.

31 August.

Zahira vs St. Thomas’

Isipathana bye

Semi-finals (Royal Complex)

7 and 8 September 

Final (Sugathadasa Stadium)

15 September