What’s cooking inside the Rugby Camps?

• Sneak Peek into Schools Rugby 2025 – Part I

The outwardly wise Heads that have replaced an incompetent bunch in the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) from last year, have produced some out-of-the-box thinking to address a few of the issues that SL Schools Rugby has been suffering with since recently. This is commendable indeed, especially considering this sort of novel thinking has become a Unicorn in all formats of Rugby played in Sri Lanka, and is something seldom considered by the persistent Rugby veterans in control of the game. Another immensely applaudable move by this new Committee is to utilise most available venues for the Knockouts, so as to ensure that each and every encounter is played at a neutral Ground, whereas in the previous years, representatives preferred to stick to just one or two venues for unknown reasons, although they were far from being neutral for some schools.

Moving the Knockouts ahead of the League ensures that no school can pull out of this once sought-after Tourney, while maximising gate collections that the SLSRFA has been deprived of during the past several years. The time frame between the Knockouts and the League allows reasonable time for some, and ample time for most players to recover from injuries. The schools that may not be interested in the KOs Trophy could treat these encounters as serious practice games while immensely benefitting from them, making this courageous change a win-win for the Schools and the SLSRFA. The Schools Rugby fraternity’s hope is that the present SLSRFA’s administration brings in further similar changes to improve the overall situation of Schools Rugby without compromising the traditions of the schools, their revenue framework, or the players’ welfare, all of which the previous representatives desperately attempted to violate.

A good number of skilfully successful assistant coaches have been promoted as Head Coaches this season, heightening the expectations for a diverse and fresh breath of Rugby techniques and tactics to be showcased, and make this season’s competitions more interesting. Some critics may choose to draw parallels between the minds of the greatest creators and Rugby coaches, who are both able to envisage in order to take creativity to the next level. Hence, the introduction of these new Head Coaches potentially opens the Gates to a whole new realm of Schools Rugby in Sri Lanka. The details of such promotions and changes are cited under the relevant schools in the article.

Sanath Martis continues as the Head Coach of St. Peter’s College and is expected to continue his flamboyant fleeing game with or without the Mega Stars of yesteryear. After having a few very close shaves against some of the opponents consisting bulkier and skilful Forwards last season, the master has now devised the means to be stronger in the Forwards defence, even up until the 70th minute; however, it is left to be seen if he would opt to use this squad for planned onslaughts as well. Despite losing a bunch of key players from last year, the Bamba Brigade stays put strong as Rocks to comfortably defend the League Title, with the assistance of lending hearts and hands to float their flag on high.

Upon fixing the tactical gameplay void when playing against the Top Guns, Isipathana College claimed the Knockouts and the League Runners-up Titles last year, rejoining the elites in Schools Rugby. However, due to the departure of Head Coach Saliya Kumara, their Forwards Coach and old boy Dhanushka Boteju took over the reigns as Head Coach for 2025, and he has accomplished many fascinating things with a comparatively young squad by adding all the vital ingredients to rejuvenate the perfect Green Machine that has been absent for a while. Constantly intense and optimistically aggressive gameplay, combined with their usual penetrative backline skills along with an extremely competitive row of lineout jumpers who could spoil any chance of the opposition Mauls from forming, backed by rock-solid Backs and Forwards defences, solidifies Pathana’s ‘gaema’ for 2025. Any opposition that tries to stop any of the Pathans by not engaging below the waistline would only end up becoming semi-fluttering Capes to make Superheroes out of the ‘grinding’ Greens. To top it all off, the present coaching unit has further enhanced the “Die Hard” attitude of the Pathans to an exhilarating level, that no opposition can assume victory with any kind of lead until the last long whistle is blown, making this year’s Green Machine a fierce contender for all of the Titles offered in the XV format of the game!

One of Royal’s major setbacks over the past few seasons has been their weak lineouts, which has been depriving the much-needed deadly Mauls from being activated against top sides. Arguably, Dushanth Lewke is a well-renowned Coach in Sri Lanka for his lethal Rolling Mauls, but it’s time that he realises that his Mauls are only as good as his hooker and jumpers, who should be able to at least retain possession at the lineouts; if not, all the time that is invested into training Maul attacks would become an utter waste of time. Slipping down to third place in the League last season, the general expectation for Royal College to field a stronger side in the major competitions is questionable, as they are expected to maintain focus on regaining the Bradby Shield this year. However, the prayer and the insatiable desire of the local Rugby enthusiasts is to witness Royal Rugby go after the League Title in 2025, with lusty throats raising frequent cheers of the rolling “Aaarrrrrrr………” 

Though long they’ve missed the sight of her, Fazil Marija’s year two careful, tactical planning brought back the Bradby to the misty Hills after what felt like an eternity. However, Trinity College’s horrible outing against DSS sank them down to the 4th spot in the League last year, which they would desperately hope to avoid this season in order to rocket themselves to the helm. While Marija’s year 3 plan would be to charge towards the twilight goal of bringing them ALL home, they remain as the most fancied side amongst the masses to clinch the League this year. Nevertheless, in order to accomplish this feat, the Lions would have to go thundering from the very first charge!

For the Legion that has been craving for its glory days in Rugby but where its players merely settled for the 1st XV Jersey as their highest achievement, Anuranga Walpole and Co. had an impossible mission to infuse basic Rugby instincts into unaware adolescents, and then empower them to play Rugby that was staunch and true in 2024. Despite the magnanimous task at hand, his reputation preceded him, as the coaching community expected a season full of Storms to be brewed by him alongside the coastline, which he lived up to by bumping S. Thomas’ College up five spots to #5 from the year prior. The few crucial close losses following the League were exclusively due to the elementary rugby mindset of the Thomians. Can Anuranga and his hard-working Coaching unit completely eradicate the occasional displays of immature Rugby in the young Thomians? If so, they may look forward to bringing back every piece of Silverware this season, including their long-lost glory.

One bad day on the field of Rugby cost the Donz a place in the Super Round in 2024, just as the year before. Despite playing a fine brand of tactical Rugby during most part of the season, D.S. Senanayake College showcased great sportsmanship wherever they played, and whatever the emotional situation was. Donz Rugby Administration and its Head Coach Asela Deshapriya should be proud of what they have accomplished in leading the way in the spirit in which the game should be played. The anticipation of the general schools Rugby fraternity is for their Fan base to also follow the lead of the Donz Rugby team, of being in control emotionally at all situations, while they cheer on the determined younger Donz to another dazzling blend of rugby in 2025.

Wesley College is expected to be a force to reckon with this season, and is likely to pose the greatest threat to all opponents chasing after the coveted Titles. Wesley Forwards steadily shall stand tall and strong, resembling the ‘Great Wall of China,’ demoralising even the top tier oppositions, unless they have the weight, strength, or defensive skills to at least hold them back. In duty and in honour bound to his alma mater, Hendry Terence shall continue to elevate the Band of Double Blues to their peak on his third year, and possibly with an adamant intention to bring one home.

Following a rather disappointing season in 2024 in comparison to previous years, Zahira College Maradana brings in the former Backs Coach of Royal College, viz. Radhika Hettiarachchi, as its Head Coach for 2025. Having had an extremely successful stint at Royal College with his lightning quick and chocking Backline coaching skills, coaching circles anticipate added heroics from the Coach who brought Dharmaraja College its only League Title in 2013, and to vehemently rock the Boat this season.

In its continuing fashion to keep experimenting with fresh Coaches each year, Vidyartha College brings in Nilfer Ibrahim back to Kandy after five years as Head Coach to see what the combination could produce? The combination is expected to be fruitful as Nilfer is likely to obtain the all-important ‘commitment’ from the young Tigers with no extra effort. However, it is impossible to make champions, even out of an ambitious ambush of Tigers overnight; as such, one could only hope that at least this time, the Vidyartha Rugby Administration would work out short and long-term plans with the expertise of Mr. Ibrahim, in order to take Vidyartha rugby back to where it used to be.

After continuing the rusty, inconsistent season into ‘24 as well, St. Joseph’s College decided to hand over the Coaching Reigns to their long-standing Forwards Coach Dulanjana Wijesinghe for this season, hoping to make an about-turn of fortunes for the Saints from Maradana and march towards stardom. Having had a successful pre-season, they now look forward to making an astounding reappearance to the centre stage of schools Rugby.