Kandy SC to sit out opening weekend of Club Rugby League
Reigning SLR Club Rugby League champions Kandy Sports Club will forego action in the opening weekend of the 2025/26 season, as last year’s runners-up Havelocks SC will host bottom seed Navy SC in the curtain-raiser on November 14. With Kandy SC leading the rankings from last season, they take the week off among the nine competing sides, while the remaining eight will battle it out across three days.
Following November 14, two games have been lined up for November 15, with Air Force SC taking on Army SC at Ratmalana, and Sri Lions hosting CR&FC. CH&FC will host Police SC at the Racecourse Ground on November 16.
The weekends will continue until December 21, the sixth week since the commencement of the 2025/26 edition of the SLR Club Rugby League, as teams take a break for the Christmas holidays. Action will resume on January 2, 2026 and will continue until January 18, before the teams are graded according to their rankings.
Last season, Kandy SC topped the table following the completion of Round 1, and went on to lift the title, pushing down the other three contenders in the Cup segment — Havelocks, CR&FC and Air Force. CH&FC lifted the Plate Championship, with Army SC, Police SC, Sri Lions and Navy SC falling behind in order.
This season, Sri Lanka Rugby has announced the return of foreign players, with each club permitted to field a player in the League, Knockout and Sevens competitions, with the likelihood of allowing clubs to field two players each from the following season. Almost all nine clubs competing in the upcoming SLR Club Rugby League have announced their coaching staff and captains, and are expected to release their final squads in the coming days.
