Schools rugby to resume with focus on Royal-Thomian clash

Inter-Schools Under-20 rugby will resume after last week’s interruption with the focus immediately on another blockbuster clash between the traditional rivals Royal College and S. Thomas’ College on Saturday at the Royal Sports Complex in Reid Avenue.

This fixture between the two heavyweights of schools’ rugby, played for the Michael Gunaratne Trophy should produce some fascinating rugby as both teams are packed with several outstanding players.

This game is even more significant for the defending champions Royal, who are chasing a unique fourth successive ‘A’ Division League title and are hoping to retain the Gunaratne Trophy as well for the fourth year-in-a-row.

In fact, the two teams will face off after a lapse of two years with Royal pulling off a magnificent 17-10 victory when the match was last played in 2019 at Mount Lavinia.

In fact, Royal have dominated the series during the past few years, and this also includes a record 55-0 triumph against the Thomians in 2018 under the captaincy of Sabith Feroze, as they beat the previous best effort of 52-0 in 2015.

S. Thomas’ last won the Gunaratne Trophy in 2016 when they triumphed 21-15 but their best performance in the series came when the team led by Charya De Saram defeated Royal 22-0 in 1991.

In addition, five more matches will be played during the weekend in Colombo and in Kandy as the biggest Inter-Schools rugby tournament reaches its climax.

Two unbeaten teams Trinity College and St. Joseph’s College will meet at Pallekele on Saturday while Dharmaraja College will take on Vidyartha College at the Nittawela Stadium on the same day.

Meanwhile, the giant killers Science College will confront Wesley College on Saturday at Longden Place in what could be another exciting encounter.

Two former champions Isipathana College and St. Peter’s College will clash at Havelock Park on Sunday while St. Anthony’s College will face Kingswood College at the Nittawela Stadium on the same day.