The Wesley College Principal along with the Chaplain, first XV rugby captain and vice captains visited the Trinity College Principal and met the rugby Captain. The Wesley Captain gave a rugby ball signed by himself and the team’s vice captains as a symbol of friendship – Pic by Wesley Bulletin

The Principal of Wesley College, in an unprecedented gesture, has issued an official apology on behalf of the school to Trinity College over an incident which involved players of Wesley College and Trinity College.

Friday’s season opener of the Schools Rugby League, which was played between Wesley College and Trinity College, saw a scuffle break out after Trinity College scored its 10th try towards the dying stages of the game.

A shoulder charge escalated into a brawl between the two sides and saw the fans joining in the fray, with proceedings subsequently escalating into a full-blown brawl. The incident was resolved with the intervention of the Police and referees.

In the aftermath of the incident, Wesley College Principal Avanka Fernando apologised, bearing full responsibility for the actions of his students.

“I personally spoke to the Principal of Trinity College and apologised and spoke to the entire Trinity College rugby team to say sorry for the misbehaviour of my boys.”

He went on to add that he would visit Trinity College with his rugby captain to personally apologise to the Trinity camp.

“On the same evening after the match I decided to visit Trinity College in the coming week with our rugby captain and vice captains to meet the Trinity College Principal and their rugby captain and the vice-captain to apologise and build mutual understanding and ensure that the strong relationship that we had will continue to remain the same.”

An official communique from Wesley College elaborates that necessary disciplinary action will be taken by the school authorities and assures that such an incident will not occur in the future.

ThePapare.com applauds this gesture, especially at a time when most school authorities are vying to win at all costs with little or no regard for sportsmanship and etiquette, a culture which they are also forcing on their students as well.

It is fervently hoped that the action of the Wesley College Principal will set a new precedent with school rugby, where passions run high and most often common sense and decency get replaced by mayhem.

The Wesley College delegation made their trip to Kandy for a public apology and met with the Trinity College Principal, Vice Principal, Chaplain, Captain and Vice Captain. (Source:  www.thepapare.com).

Kudos for Trinity’s Himesh

​During the Under-19 cricket match between Trinity College and Royal College, Trinity batsman Hasitha Boyagoda, who scored 139 in the first innings against Royal, was given not out for a caught behind appeal in the second innings while on 5 off the bowling of Himesh Ramanayake but decided to walk off, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd for his sportsmanship. 

Spectators said it was great to see such traits being shown by a young cricketer.