The biggest schoolboy event in the country, the Schools’ Rugby League is set to take the country ‘s rugby frenzied fraternity by storm in March as the league will kick off on the 9th of March 2018.
One of the most celebrated and followed events in the country, the Schools’ Rugby League will come alive for a whole new edition this year with the participation of 87 schools across 3 divisions. The league that will see a start during the second week of March will span over a period of four months and will come to a conclusion in June.
Schools’ Rugby League in March; no change to structure
The proposed new structure for the Schools Rugby LeaguE..
The top tier competition, which is the ‘A’ Division competition will be the most anticipated contest where the top schools’ teams battle for the treasured Schools Rugby League crown.
According to the Sri Lanka Schools’ Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) the 1st round of games will halt for the holy week during the March 29-31st weekend and for the New Year weekend in April (13th and 14th).
Read about the Captaincy announcements
- Isipathana appoints captain for the new season
- New Captain to lead the Maradana underdogs in 2018
- Dharmaraja appoints rugby captain for the new season
- Trinity to be led by Shiek in the new season
Similar to last year, the tournament will have the first round in each of the divisions. After the conclusion of the first five weeks, the top 4 of ‘IA’ and ‘IIA’ will be retained and the eight teams will compete for the Cup title.
The lower two of each group will then be tied up with the top four of Division ‘B’ and will compete for the Plate title.
The basis for selecting the host team will be initially based on last year’s fixture. If the two teams have not played each other in the past season, they will have to abide by the SLSRFA’s host preference.
The groups for the 2018 Schools’ Season is as follows:
| Division A | |
| IA | IIA |
| Royal College Colombo | Isipathana College |
| Trinity College | Wesley College |
| St. Joseph’s College | St. Peter’s College |
| S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia | Zahira College |
| St. Anthony’s College | Dharmaraja College |
| Kingswood College | D. S. Senanayake College |
| Division B | |
| IB | IIB |
| Science College | Lumbini College Colombo |
| Vidyartha College | Prince of Wales College Moratuwa |
| Ananda College Colombo | Maliyadewa College Kurunegala |
| St. Benedict’s College | Thurstan College |
| St. Sylvester’s College | Mahanama College Colombo |
| Piliyandala MMV Piliyandala | Richmond College Galle |
Division ‘A’ Fixtures (venues subjected to change)
| 1st Week 5th March to 12th March | |||
| Home Team | Visiting Team | Venue | |
| 1 | Royal College Colombo | Kingswood College Kandy | Royal Complex |
| 2 | St. Anthony’s College Kandy | Trinity College Kandy | Nittawela |
| 3 | St. Joseph’s College Colombo | S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia | CR & FC |
| 4 | Isipathana College Colombo | D.S.Senanayake College Colombo | Havelock Park |
| 5 | Wesley College Colombo | Dharmaraja College Kandy | CR & FC |
| 6 | St. Peter’s College Colombo | Zahira College Colombo | Bambalapitiya |
| 2nd Week 13th March to 19th March | |||
| Home Team | Visiting Team | Venue | |
| 7 | St. Anthony’s College Kandy | Royal College Colombo | Nittawela |
| 8 | Kingswood College Kandy | S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia | Bogambara |
| 9 | Trinity College Kandy | St. Joseph’s College Colombo | Pallekelle |
| 10 | Isipathana College Colombo | Dharmaraja College Kandy | Havelock Park |
| 11 | D.S.Senanayake College Colombo | Zahira College Colombo | TBC |
| 12 | St. Peter’s College Colombo | Wesley College | Bambalapitiya |
| 3rd Week 20th March to 26th March | |||
| Home Team | Visiting Team | Venue | |
| 13 | Royal College Colombo | S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia | Royal Complex |
| 14 | St. Joseph’s College | St. Anthony’s College Kandy | CR & FC |
| 15 | Kingswood College Kandy | Trinity College Kandy | Bogambara |
| 16 | Zahira College Colombo | Isipathana College | Zahira Grounds |
| 17 | St. Peter’s College Colombo | Dharmaraja College Kandy | Bambalapitiya |
| 18 | D.S.Senanayake College Colombo | Wesley College Colombo | TBC |
| 4th Week 02nd April to 10th April | |||
| Home Team | Visiting Team | Venue | |
| 19 | St. Joseph’s College Colombo | Royal College Colombo | CR & FC |
| 20 | Trinity College Kandy | S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia | Pallekelle |
| 21 | St. Anthony’s College Kandy | Kingswood College Kandy | Nittawela |
| 22 | St. Peter’s College Colombo | Isipathana College Colombo | Havelock Park |
| 23 | Zahira College Colombo | Wesley College Colombo | Zahira Grounds |
| 24 | Dharmaraja College Kandy | D.S.Senanayake College Colombo | TBC |
| 5th Week 19thApril to 25th April | |||
| Home Team | Visiting Team | Venue | |
| 25 | Royal College Colombo | Trinity College Kandy | Royal Complex |
| 26 | St. Joseph’s College Colombo | Kingswood College Kandy | CR & FC |
| 27 | S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia | St. Anthony’s College Kandy | Mount Lavinia |
| 28 | Isipathana College Colombo | Wesley College Colombo | CR & FC |
| 29 | St. Peter’s College Colombo | D.S.Senanayake College Colombo | Bambalapitiya |
| 30 | Zahira College Colombo | Dharmaraja College Kandy | Zahira Grounds |
Second Round Fixtures
| Week | Dates |
| Week 1 | 7th to 13th May |
| Week 2 | 14th to 20th May |
| Week 3 | 21st to 27th May |
| Week 4 | 28th May to 3rd June |
