Confident Isipathana out to regain Under 20 Rugby Sevens

Isipathana College will look to add another title to the current season when they begin their campaign for the Inter-Schools Under-20 Sevens Tournament at the Nittawela Stadium in Kandy today.

The ‘A’ Division unbeaten league champions and the President’s Trophy Knock-Out Tournament champions will be determined to stamp their class in this shorter format of the game and conclude the season on a high note.

In fact, Isipathana have dominated inter-schools seven-a-side rugby since the inception and had the satisfaction of winning the inaugural tournament in 1970 under the Captaincy of Hafi Abdeen, former Havelock SC, CH and FC, Kandy Lake Club, CR and FC and Sri Lanka fly half. Thereafter, Isipathana have always turned out to be a major force in sevens rugby and now they have a proud record of having won the All-Island Sevens Tournament on 16 occasions.

This time Isipathana will launch their campaign for the title from Group ‘A’ alongside St. Sylvester’s College and the 2019 Shield champions Moratu MV. However, the defending champions Trinity College have pulled out from the tournament along with S. Thomas’, Science College and Zahira. Some of the other top contenders for the title are Wesley College, St. Joseph’s College and the 2019 Plate champions Royal College.

(Group ‘A’): Isipathana, St. Sylvester’s, Moratu MV.

(Group ‘B’): Dharmaraja, Kingswood, Sri Sumangala.

(Group ‘C’): Vidyartha, Lumbini, Nalanda.

(Group ‘D’): Wesley, St. Aloysius’, Carey.

(Group ‘E’): St. Joseph’s, St. Benedict’s, Piliyandala Central.

(Group ‘F’): St. Peter’s, Maliyadeva, Rahula.

(Group ‘G’): St. Anthony’s, D. S. Senanayake, Dewapathiraja.

(Group ‘H’): Royal, Ananda, Siri Piyarathana.