Champs Petes see other hungry ‘wolves’ pursuing rugby plum

by A Special Sports Correspondent

The schools’ league rugby season for 2024 will kick off on June 14 (Friday) with St. Joseph’s hosting Vidyartha at Havelock Park. Joes were not promising as predictions went last season and finished seventh in points table just ahead of Vidyartha, which finished in 10th position. The format this season sees two more teams joining the fray and raising the participating number of teams to 16 in the Division 1 Segment 1 category. Last season the number of teams contesting this segment of the league tournament was 14; seven in each group.

Isipatana College finished third, but still produced some gutsy performances last season.

By doing so the organizers of the tournament – the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association – have forced new entrants like Thurstan and Sri Sumanagala College Kandy to undertake a hurculean task of surviving the knocks in division 1 Segment 1 rugby. For Thurstan it might be not so hard because their DNA has traces of playing top division rugby in the past, but for minnows Sri Sumanagala it would be an acid test. Both these schools earned their promoting to Division 1 Segment 1 category after stellar performances in Division 1 Segment 2 category last season.

Royal College has enough men and material to produce a champion outfit this season.

Last season, the rugby plum was won by St. Peter’s which will start this season as favourites. The Peterites are pooled in Division 1 Segment 1 ‘group B’ along with Royal, Joes, Wesley, Vidyartha, Zahira, Kingswood and Thurstan. The Division 1 Segment 1 ‘group B’ comprises Isipatana, St. Anthony’s, D.S. Senanayake, Trinity, S. Thomas’, Science, Dharmaraja and Sri Sumanagala.

The Peterites were like a well drilled machine last season and smashed all the teams; starting their campaign with a resounding 11-5 win against Royal in their opening match of the season. Last season the boys from Bambalapitiya remained unbeaten and capped off the season winning the knockout tournament as well. Last season there was a close tussle for the second and third places, but Royal with a better aggregate finished second in the league tournament followed by Isipatana College (3rd place); the team wearing the green jerseys easily being the most promising side after St. Peter’s in the tournament. The Peterites are led this season by hooker Dulaj Nawodya.

Royal had a fine season in 2023 under Randul Senanayake and even lifted the Bradby Shield beating Trinity on a higher aggregate. This season the lads from Reid Avenue are led by Thivain Perera and coached by Dushanth Lewke. Royal have other trophy matches against teams like Isipatana and S. Thomas’ and the Royalists emerged the victor in both these encounters last year.

St. Anthony’s College rugby players didn’t disappoint both their school and fans and did well to finished among the top four
teams.

Isipatana are led this season by number eight Nisaja Jayaweera who’ll have Shaahid Zumry as his deputy. This side from Havelock Town is filled with capable players and is coached once again by Saliya Kumara who’ll be assisted by Danushka Botheju. The Green Shirts have over the years showed great resilience in the face of adversity in the field of rugby. This is a school rugby team which improves with every game and has retained the unofficial title of being ‘the most feared side to play in the league’ as the season progresses.

The other top side featured in this segment of school rugby in ‘The Island’ newspaper is St. Anthony’s College Katugastota. This side which was led by kicking sensation Sahan Keerthisiri finished exceptionally well last season to finish as the fourth best side in the league tournament. The Anthonians ‘Eagles’ are led this season by linkman Oshan Guneratne who has Ravindu Welagedara as his deputy. The Anthonians have a proud history in rugby and much is expected of them this season. The Anthonians are coached this season by Achala Perera and Srinath Sooriyabandara.