Royal, Trinity and S. Thomas’ will play in President’s Trophy Tourney

by Jatila Karawita

RUGBY: The 2009 Milo President’s Trophy under 20 Inter-School Knock-Out Rugby Tournament, conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), and sponsored by Nestle Lanka Limited, will kick-off on July 8, President of the SLSRFA K. A. D. Punyadasa, told the Sunday Observer.

He said the necessary spadework had been done to hold the knock-out tournament from July 8-18, with the participation of all leading Division 1 Tier ‘A’ teams, to make amends for the unprecedented withdrawal of top teams from the tournament last year.

“This-year we are positive that all top school teams who played in the League Tournament will vie for President’s Trophy honours in July”, he said. “Teams like Royal, Trinity and S. Thomas’ have already given their consent to play this-year and we are hopeful that Kingswood College, Kandy will also compete.

Mr. Punyadasa said and added kingswood are yet contemplating whether to play or not, due to injuries to their players who have had not much time to recover to play their final league game on July 4 (Saturday).

However the SLSRFA President was of the opinion that Kingswood College, Kandy could be coaxed to play as all leading schools were in the fray this-year. Mr. Punyadasa noted that if most leading schools do not participate in the tournament, the value of the tourney will disappear and crowds too would lose enthusiasm.

The SLSRFA President who is also the principal of Isipathana MV, Colombo added that sponsors Nestle Lanka Limited had emphasised the importance of all top-flight school teams in the President’s Schools League contesting the knock-out tournament this-year if the latter is to stay on board as the main sponsor of the once popular rugby tournament.

According to the schedule drawn by the SLSRFA, the Milo President’s Trophy Knock-Out is ready to begin on July 8 with the quarter-finals, while the two semi-finals are to be played on July 12 and 13.

The final has been fixed for July 18 (Saturday) at the Royal Sports Complex, Colombo.

It is hoped to play some of the quarter-finals and even semi-final match in Kandy, should the Kandy schorls qualify.