Arrangements for restart of Schools rugby in the pipeline
The 75th Bradby Shield encoutner is likely to happen finally
Latest indications are that the 75th Bradby Shield matches will be played on June 1 and 15 at Pallekele and Colombo respectively. The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) will be meeting today to discuss how best the stalled tournament can be continued. The second round of the Singer Inter-School Rugby Tournament will also commence on June 1.
The Bradby Shield Committee and the SLSRFA officials are awaiting clearance from the Defence and Education Ministries. A pertinent point is that if the Second Leg of the Bradby Shield is to be played on June 15, S. Thomas’ and St. Joseph’s will have to re-arrange their fixtures against the Bradby rivals and play those matches in the fifth week of the tournament.
The Sports Ministry has recommended that the matches should be played at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Bogambara/Pallakele and the Air Force grounds in Ratmalana. Where do these arrangements leave the Kandy and other outstation schools? Top division teams Vidyartha, Dharmaraja and Maliyadeva are reluctant to play until the neutral venue is declared safe.