The Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout Tournament, aka the President’s Trophy is set to kickoff on the 25th of August with the game between D.S. Senanayake College and Zahira College at Havelock Park.
Despite finishing unbeaten in the first round of the Dialog Schools Rugby League Tournament, which concluded with St. Peter’s College winning the title for the first time since 2010, defending champs Isipathana lost key games to Royal (22-17) and St. Peter’s (28-17), failing to defend the league title. They have secured a bye to move straight into the semi-finals and will look to make amends for the loss of the League title, in a season where their aim was to do the treble (they won the schools 7s title earlier in the year).
D.S. Senanayake College and Zahira College, with four wins apiece in six games in the league tournament, will be eyeing a spot in the last four when they face off on Friday. DS was the more impressive of the two in the league and nearly made it through to the Super Round, losing out on the last weekend.
On the following day, St. Anthony’s College will battle it out against St. Joseph’s College at Havelock Park with the kick-off scheduled for 4.15 p.m. This will be a blockbuster game with St. Joseph’s looking for sweet revenge over St. Anthony’s. The Antonians stunned the Joes with an impressive 22-12 win at Bogambara in the league opener, a bitter pill to swallow for the boys from Darley Road. The Antonian Eagles ended the league in 4th place overall, making it into the Super Round, while the Joes were placed 7th.
In the last quarter-final to be played on Sunday (27) at Havelock Park, the newly crowned League Champions will go out as favourites against Trinity College, who finished the league in 9th position with three wins off six matches.
St. Peter’s have enjoyed an outstanding season this year in the league tournament, finishing it as the unbeaten champions by winning all eight games convincingly.
St. Peter’s crowned unbeaten champions as Knockouts roll around
The semi-finals will be played on the 2nd and 3rd of September, while the grand finale of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2023 will be played on the 10th of September 2022 at the Royal College Sports Complex, Colombo.
As the title sponsor, Dialog Axiata has made arrangements to LIVE stream the matches via ThePapare.com and the Dialog VIU mobile app. The games will also be broadcast LIVE on Dialog TV Channel 126 in the interest of all present boys, old boys, parents, supporters, well-wishers and the Rugby-loving public.
Central College Piliyandala, Lumbini College, Mahanama College, Maliyadewa College, Sri Sumangala College, Ananda College, Thurstan College will compete for the Premier Trophy of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout Tourney 2023.
The schools competing for the Chairman’s Trophy are Richmond College, Lalith Athulathmudali College, St. John’s College, Nalanda College, Rahula College, Siri Piyarathana College, Sumangala College.
In the 2022 Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout Championship, Isipathana College trumped St. Joseph’s College (49-22) in the final to take the coveted title.
Unbeaten St. Peter’s College crowned Dialog Schools Rugby League Champions
Isipathana College with 11 title wins have the greatest number of wins in the Knockouts history, followed by St. Peter’s College with 7 wins and S. Thomas’ College with 5 wins.
Dialog Axiata is the proud sponsor of the Sri Lanka National Volleyball, Netball and Esports teams. The Company also has a close association with the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball tourneys, Sri Lanka Golf Open and Paralympic sports by powering the Army Para Games, National Para Games and the Sri Lankan contingent to the World Paralympic Games
