Schools rugby kicks off after two-year wait

Schools rugby returns after a 2-year wait 

By Shamseer Jaleel

The curtain raiser of the Dialog Under 20 Inter Schools Rugby League 2022 will kick off on 23 June with St. Joseph’s College hosting Kingswood College at Havelock Park. 

The Joes who had a good season in 2019 will be led by Teran Karunanayake while Kingswoodians will be led by Gihan Ranaweera. This tournament returns back after a lapse of two years due to the Covid pandemic.

Former Kingswood and national men’s coach for the Commonwealth Games Nilfer Ibrahim will be the head coach of the Joes unit while former Isipathana and Kandy SC player Buddhika Thalagampola will oversee the Randles Hill outfit. 

Meanwhile, the defending champions Royal College will host the Antonians on 24 June at the Royal Sports Complex. Royal will be all out to bag the schools league for a record four years in tandem. At present Isipathana hold the record by winning on three years in a row and Royal too have equalised same. Isipathana winning streak was from 1992 to 1994. 

Harshith Peris and Kaveen Saranga are appointed as the Captain and Vice-Captain, respectively, for the Inter-Schools Rugby Tournament 2022 by the Reid Avenue outfit. Antonians will be led by Jeyan Amarasinghe with Maliksha Perera being his deputy. The outfit is coached by Sumedha Malawena the former Vidyartha, Navy SC and national XV’s player. Meanwhile Royal, the defending champions fielding an outstanding side will be coached by Dushantha Lewke assisted by Radhika Hettiarachchi.

Kandy will have only one came in week one. The traditional encounter between S. Thomas’ College and Trinity College will be played at the Pallekelle Rugby Stadium hosted by Trinity. 

This encounter is played for Canon de Saram Shield which the Thomians are the defending champion having won the 2021 encounter last played at Havelock Park. Both esteemed Institutions will be battling it out after three months lapse where the Mount Lavinia outfit won the last encounter 17/14 at Havelock Park.

Trinity is led by Lithmal Moragoda with some top-class players such as in their outfit. They have some top-class players such as Loshika Wijewkoon, Kaveesha Edema and Attaab Manzil in their outfit. The outfit is coached by former Trinity “Lion”, Havies and national player, Kavinda Jayasena as their Head Coach. Meanwhile Thomians are led by Chariya Kurukulasuriya with Shenal Fernando, Viyan de Silva and Jadena Koch as their seniors in the outfit. The outfit is coached by the former Isipathana, national player and Sri Lanka Air Force Head Coach, Shamly Nawas.

Meanwhile Tharusha Jayaweera will lead the Wesley outfit who will field a formidable outfit this year when they meet Vidyartha College. Wesely will be coached by Saliya Handapangoda. Vidyartha will be under Arosha Ratnayake and their coaching unit is led by Nalin Wijesinghe.

Rajans will have co captains this year. Thenuka Wickremasinghe and Sawumya Wijesiri will lead them. Kavindu de Costa will be their Head Coach.  Meanwhile master of the trade Sanath Martis will overlook the Peterite rugby outfit for yet another season.  Isipathana will battle it out with Science in week one. Isipathana is led by. They are coached by one of the best youngsters in the field Saliya Kumara. He is also the national Women’s coach for the Commonwealth Games which will take place in Birmingham. Meanwhile little-known Science College could bring a few surprise package this season. They are coached by Amila Chathuranga.