Wesley and Kingswood gear up for 39th Blaze Trophy under lights
View(s):This year the two high riding teams are led by inspirational figures in the likes of Thaveehs Ekanayake, who captains the Kingswood side, while Wesley will be led by Sandul Gammanpila. Both teams have done extremely well throughout their ongoing Dialog Schools Rugby League campaigns so far. Both respective teams coached by respected alumnus – Ananda Kasturiarachchi, the Kingswood team who have made a remarkable revive, and Henry Terence, a former skipper who transformed Wesley as an outstanding unit as the present coach.
(From left): Kingswood skipper Thaveesha Ekanayake, Muditha Abeykoon, (President, Kingswood Union), Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Sarada Samarakoon (Chairman, Kingswood Rugby Committee), Dhammika Herath (Principal, Kingswood), Avanka Fernando (Principal, Wesley), Hirosh Rupesinghe (Chairman, Wesley Rugby Committee) and Wesley captain Sandul Gammanpila with the Blaze Trophy and the newly launched logo – Pic Eshan Fernando
The Blaze Trophy clash between Kingswood and Wesley is a clash of generational rivalry, as a century plus brotherhood will come to life yet again in honour of the pioneering father of Sri Lankan rugby, Louis Edmund Blaze, who is also the founder of Kingswood College. The two schools share a muture brotherhood as crown jewels of the Methodist Missionary education along with Richmond College, Galle.
Even through having met each other earlier, the inaugural Blaze Trophy encounter was played in 1986 with Ronnie Ibrahim’s Kingswood beating Sumedha Kuruppu’s Wesley outfit. The trophy was donated by Roy de Silva, a prominent alumni of Kingswood College and former Chairman of Asian Olympic Committee.
Kingswood carries the rare honour as the school which introduced rugby to Sri Lanka in 1891. In 1906, the first school match ever in Sri Lanka was played between Kingwood College and Trinity College, two leading schools from Kandy. Wesley started rugby in 1956 under Eddie Buell.
Wesley are the current holders of the Blaze Trophy, after setting a record third win in-a-row for the first time in their rugby history last year. Kingswood last won in 2019 and are eagerly looking forward to break a six-year hoodoo. However, Kingswood have dominated overall in the series with 23 wins against Wesley’s nine wins. Four encounters have ended in draws.
Both schools announced the 39th edition of the Blaze Trophy at a press conference held at the iconic 127-year-old Wesley College Pavilion at Campbell Park, formally kicking off the campaign for 2025, with a few additions. A new combined logo uniquely designed for the Blaze Trophy, was revealed at the occasion, along with the trophy by the captains and principals of both schools.
Principal of Kingswood, Dhammika Herath, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Sarada Samarakoon, the Chairman of Kingswood Rugby Committee, Muditha Abeykoon, the President of Kingswood Union) and rugby skipper Thaveesha Ekanayake were present at the press conference representing Kingswood College.
Representing Wesley, Principal Avanka Fernando, Chairman of Wesley Rugby Committee, Hirosh Rupesinghe, President of Wesley ODU Divakar Ratnadurai, and rugby captain Sandul Gammanpila marked their presence.