Dialog Schools Rugby League set to kick off on Friday
The upcoming weeks, beginning from next Friday to its culmination in the second week of August, could be termed a phase where many strange things could happen.
This is a period where even siblings who have attended different institutions could become arch-rivals despite sharing the same family name. The ardent supporter and follower of the very well-known ‘game of hooligans played by gentlemen’ may set aside their common devotion towards the game for once, just to transform themselves into great, loyal students of their respective schools, even if they are now grandparents.
This is the impact school rugby has had on the local rugby fraternity, a matter well known to all Sri Lankans, and a major shock and surprise to the followers and even players from major rugby-playing nations, such as New Zealand and Australia.
The attention will surely be on title holders St. Peter’s College, who opted to withdraw from the concluded Dialog Schools Knockout Championship 2025, which was eventually won by Isipathana College. Last season, the Peterites completed their League mission with an unbeaten run, until they went down to Isipathana in the Knockout final, their only defeat.
In the only game the Peterites played this year, against Thurstan College, it became a one-sided affair, and from then onwards how the Bamba Brigade would navigate further became a total mystery after their withdrawal. That spotlight was seized by the Green Machine, who eventually became the Knockout champions against a fully rejuvenated Trinity College.
These three sides – St. Peter’s, Isipathana and Trinity – have surely made their intentions clear with their performances during the Knockout competition. The pummelling win by St. Peter’s, through to the final between Trinity and Isipathana, where the former led right until the last minute before the latter made a stunning breakthrough to record a close 12-9 win, says it all.
Royal College, the third-best team from last year’s League, may not have produced much of a surprise during the Knockout, notably against Kingswood College and Isipathana in the semi-final. But they are always known to be the inventors of surprise, and a team that raises its status after each game. S. Thomas’ College, too, has shown that lost grit and can be classified amongst the list of title contenders.
Others in the competition – D.S. Senanayake College, who finished sixth last season, Wesley College, Zahira College, Vidyartha College, St. Joseph’s College, Science College, Dharmaraja College and St. Anthony’s College – could come to the point where they may spring a surprise here and there, but consistency will be a factor they totally lack.
Kingswood, on the other hand, could become a better unit than what they were last season, considering their performance against Royal. Sri Sumangala College, Kandy, Thurstan College and newcomers Mahanama College and Ananda College may initially find it challenging to adapt to the level of competition of Division I ‘A’, but they must always be prepared to
confront the unforeseen challenges.
The Division I ‘A’ Schools League Championship will include a total of 18 teams, with six teams each in three groups depending on their standings from last season. Each group will play three games per week, amounting to a total of nine games per week. The group stage, which begins on 6th June, will culminate by 6th July after a marathon of 45 games, before teams will be categorised into Cup, Plate and Bowl segments based on their final group standings. Each team is set to play four more games each, beginning from 14th July, in their respective segments to determine the Cup, Plate and Bowl winners by 10th August.
| Division I | |
St. Anthony’s College, Ananda College
Sri Sumangala College Kandy, Thurstan College |
