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Another epidemic ! Bradby fever
The next epidemic of fever is about to hit Sri Lanka, particularly in Colombo & Kandy. Due to vagaries of the turbulent weather caused by manmade disasters, i.e.: elections and postponing of Advanced Level exams, the Bradby Fever epidemic is approximately one month late this year.

Yes, this refers to the annual rugby encounters between Royal and Trinity, for the coveted Bradby Shield, scheduled for the 7th August in Colombo and the return in Kandy, on 21st August.

It is also time for Royal’s Rugby Players of the past, to take their Rugger blazers out of the cupboard and formally meet for the 29th time. The Annual Old Royalist’s Rugby Dinner, which is held on the 'eve' of the Colombo Bradby, will be held this year on Thursday 5th August, at their usual venue, the Ceylon Continental (formerly The Inter-Continental). Due to numerous request and hints, that the normal 'eve' is not long enough, for Royal Rugby types to talk of their glorious days sporting the blue and gold jersey, the organizing committee has 'stretched the eve'. Hence this year's dinner is on the Thursday, not Friday as in the past.

The dinner itself is a formal affair, with a band and all. The preferred dress code being Royal rugby blazer & College tie. This is one occasion where each and every participant is equal and no different to each other, bound by the common bond of having represented Royal at its highest level of rugby. It is the right and duty of Royal rugby coloursmen to attend.

The chairman of this years Dinner Committee is Siri Almeida, whilst U L Kaluarachchi (chief guest at the Colombo-leg) and Iqbal Hassan - all former captains will toast the School and Game respectively, with Ambassador T D S A Dissanayake, playing chief of protocol.

They served the college with distinction on the field in the early 50's, in the early 60's, the late 70's, and in the mid 50's, in that order. The committee itself is unique, with representation of all eras of rugby at Royal. It includes the pioneers of this special Dinner, Gamini Salgado & Mahes Rodrigo , assisted by Tony Anghie , Stanley Unamboowe, Ratna Sivaratnam and Ken Balendra, constitute the Masters of the committee.

Followed by aspiring Masters, U L Kaluarachchi and Ana Wimaladharma, and including even the likes of Zulki Hameed, Royal's record breaking captain of 2002. A Dinner date at which Royal Ruggerites stand tall and proud to be a part of.

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