Neutral venue to host Milo President’s Trophy final

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), at a meeting held yesterday at Lumbini College, decided to stage the final of the Milo President’s Trophy knockout tournament between Isipathana and Royal at a neutral venue to ensure that no team had an undue advantage.

Before the tournament kicked off, the SLSRFA decided to host matches involving Royal at CR&FC. However, they later decided to host all matches at the Royal Sports Complex due to security considerations for players, match officials and spectators. 

Furthermore, organisers Nestle preferred the Royal Sports Complex due to its better crowd control capability. 

In the semi-finals both S. Thomas’ and Isipathana objected to playing at the Royal Sports Complex. The Thomians though eventually relented and not only played at the Royal Sports Complex but also lost to the Reid Avenue school. Isipathana though stood firm behind the decision taken by their rugby committee to play the tournament’s final at a neutral venue.

SLSRFA Secretary Denzil Darling told Daily FT that the SLSRFA would select the neutral venue today. He revealed that CR&FC and Havelocks could not be considered since Havelocks serves as the home grounds of Isipathana and CR&FC refused to release its grounds owing to the damage its clubhouse sustained during the Thomians game against Isipathana. This makes the Race Course grounds the likely venue to host the final, he suggested. The finals between Isipathana and Royal will be contested on 9 July.