Wesley, Kingswood L.E. Blaze Trophy 2013 annual encounter to kick off

The two brother schools, Wesley College Colombo and Kingswood College Kandy, are yet again set to display their prowess in rugby when they play each other on Saturday 1 June, at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy for the coverted ‘L.E. Blaze Trophy’.  

Wesley College, Colombo founded on 2 March 1874, by Rev. Daniel Henry Pereira with Rev. Samuel Roswe Wilkin as its founder principal, is a leading college in Colombo with a rich heritage of traditions. Wesley College bears a proud history with great contributions to the nation by producing men of honour, grit and industry. There are many great statesmen, sportsmen who represented the nation and prominent personalities who are the products of this great institution. Wesley started rugby in 1955 with the first captain being Eddie Buell.

Kingswood College, Kandy was founded by Sir. L.E. Blaze on 4 May 1891. Kingswood College is also of repute with a similar history of great traditions and contributions to the Sri Lankan society through many facets. But to the rugby loving public, Kingwood College is known as the school which introduced Rugby to Sri Lanka. Kingswood started playing rugby from the year it was founded in 1891. In 1906 the first match ever between two schools in Sri Lanka was played between Kingswood and Trinity College.

Sir. L.E. Blaze is honoured by Sri Lankans as the fore farther of Sri Lankan rugby, but there were many contributions made by him to Kingswood College. Under the aegis of the mission, Sir Blaze left an indelible stamp over the school. At the outset Sir Blaze, modelled Kingswood on the English Public School. He endeavoured to give meaning and substance to that often repeated phrase ‘Gentlemen of Kingswood’. He chose a motto for the school in Latin, ‘Fide et Virtute’ as was customary at the time. He then chose the distinctive school colours maroon and dark blue, and wrote the words of the Kingwood College, school song.

In honour of this great gentleman, brother schools; Kingwood College Kandy and Wesley College Colombo set out to play an annual encounter of rugby which consists of two legs. Each hosted by the schools in Kandy and Colombo. The first L.E. Blaze Trophy game was played on 17 July 1986. The game was won by Kingswood College that year. Kingswood was captained by Ronnie Ibrahim and Wesley by Sumedha Kuruppu. In the history of the L.E. Blaze Trophy out of 25 encounters, Kingswood has won 18 and Wesley was won five while two games ended in draws.

This year, Wesley is captained by the fourth-year colours man Rahul De Silva, and vice captained by another fourth-year colours man Gavin Seigertz. Wesley commands the No. 3 position in the Singer Schools rugby league 2013, points table so far having registered victories against Isipathana College, Science College, St. Josephs College and St. Anthony’s College Kandy.

The Kingswood team is captained by third-year colours man Rumesh Premathilake. There are three third-year colours men in this year’s team. So far, Kingswood has won two games and lost four while one drawn. Kingswood is currently at No. 6 position in the Singer Schools rugby league 2013 points table. The game is tipped to be an exciting 80 minutes display of rugby, with both schools playing for glory in this annual encounter. Rugby fans are invited to be there to witness the sportsmanship of these two great brother schools.