The two brother schools, Wesley College Colombo and Kingswood College Kandy, are yet again set to display their prowess in rugby when they play each other on the 23rd May at the CR & FC, Colombo for the coveted ‘L.E. Blaze Trophy’.
Wesley College, Colombo founded on 2 March 1874, by Rev. Daniel Henry Pereira with Rev. Samuel Roswe Wilkin as its founder principal, is a leading college in Colombo with a rich heritage of traditions. Wesley College bears a proud history with great contributions to the nation by producing men of honour, grit and industry. There are many great statesmen, sportsmen who represented the nation and prominent personalities who are the products of this great institution. Wesley started rugby in 1955 with the first captain being Eddie Buell.
Kingswood College, Kandy was founded by Sir. L.E. Blaze on 4 May 1891. Kingswood College is also of repute with a similar history of great traditions and contributions to the Sri Lankan society through many facets. But to the rugby loving public, Kingwood College is known as the school which introduced Rugby to Sri Lanka. Kingswood started playing rugby from the year it was founded in 1891. In 1906 the first match ever between two schools in Sri Lanka was played between Kingswood and Trinity College.
Sir. L.E. Blaze is honoured by Sri Lankans as the forefather of Sri Lankan school rugby, but there were many contributions made by him to Kingswood College. Under the aegis of the Weslyan mission, Sir Blaze left an indelible stamp over the school. At the outset Sir Blaze, modelled Kingswood on the English Public School. He endeavoured to give meaning and substance to that often repeated phrase ‘Gentlemen of Kingswood’. He chose a motto for the school in Latin, ‘Fide et Virtute’ as was customary at the time. He then chose the distinctive school colours maroon and dark blue, and wrote the words of the Kingwood College, school song.
In honour of this great gentleman, brother schools; Kingwood College Kandy and Wesley College Colombo set out to play an annual encounter of rugby which consists of two legs. Each hosted by the schools in Kandy and Colombo. The first L.E. Blaze Trophy game was played on 17 July 1986. The game was won by Kingswood College that year. Kingswood was captained by Ronnie Ibrahim and Wesley by Sumedha Kuruppu. In the history of the L.E. Blaze Trophy out of 25 encounters, Kingswood has won 18 and Wesley was won five while three games ended in draws.
2013 year saw another draw with 8 all leaving Wesley College to retain the trophy
The trophy was donated by Mr Roy De Silva a prominent Gentleman of Kingwood and former Chairman of the Asian Olympic Committee.
This year, Wesley is captained by the fourth-year colors man Joel Thilakaratne, and vice captained by fifth-year colors man Sithum Peiris who also has Sri Lanka colors. Wesley who were the champs of Milo knockouts in 2013, is having a good season with some brilliant rugby but wheels of fortune is yet to turn and this is proven when they lost to Royal, Trinity and unbeaten Isipathana with slender margins. However, the lads are determined to showcase a comeback late in the season and give surprises to much fancied and hyped up teams in the school arena.
The Kingswood team is captained by fourth-year colors man Asela Wijesinghe. There are four third-year colours men in this year’s team. So far, Kingswood has won all the games in the first round having the season opener a draw with St Peters College. Kingswood is having one of ther trade mark season with classic play of good rugby and is a contender for the coveted league title of Singer schools Rugby league.
L E Blaze trophy is is tipped to be an exciting 80 minutes display of rugby, with both schools playing for glory in this annual encounter. Rugby fans are invited to be there to witness the sportsmanship of these two great brother schools.
