Milo President’s Trophy will be held from June 30 to July 13 at Royal Sports Complex, Colombo. The tournament was first staged in 1985, then known as the Prime Minister’s trophy.
But in 1995 it was changed as the President’s trophy. According to the statistics, St. Peter’s college won the inaugural tournament but since then Isipathana College has been crowned champions ten times while St. Peter’s has clinched it five times. Royal, Kingswood and Trinity have won the trophy three times each.
Isipathana will kick off the tournament against Thurstan, the bowl champions of the league tournament this year. This encounter will also be played for the Abdul Jabbar shield. Trinity college will kick off against defending champions Wesley college. Everyone’s money would be on Isipathana College to win this tournament but, Trinity who has been performing consistently throughout this season will be another team to watch out for. Defending champions and this year’s plate champions Wesley College and Thurstan College will replace St. Joseph’s and St. Thomas’ of the league cup group to make it to this exciting schools rugby trophy.
C.W.W. Kannangara, one of the best emerging rugby teams in the Schools arena will battle it out against Dharmaraja – the winner of Div 1A league last year, for the Premiere’s trophy while Nalanda, St. Benedicts and St. John’s will be firm favorites to win the third tier Chairman’s trophy.
The Premiere’s trophy matches and the finals of the Chairman’s trophy will be held at the Royal Sports Complex. The venues for the quarter and the semi-final matches of Chairman’s trophy are yet to be confirmed although Thurstan and CR&FC grounds have been ear-marked by the organizers – Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association.
The tournaments main sponsor will be Nestle Lanka.
Here are the winners of the past years of the president’s trophy.
YEAR – WINNER
1995 – St. Peters
1996 – Isipathana
1997 – Isipathana
1998 – Thurstan
1999 – Isipathana
2000 – Isipathana
2001 – isipathana
2002 – Royal
2003 – Kingswood
2004 – Kingswood
2005 – Kingswood
2006 – St. Peters
2007 – St. Peters
2008 – St. Peters
2009 – St. Thomas
2010 – Joint Champions – St. Peters and Royal
2011 – Trinity
2012 – Isipathana
2013 – Wesley
President’s trophy quarter final fixtures:
30-JunISIPATHANATHURSTAN4.30 PMROYAL COMPLEX
1-JulSCIENCEST. PETER’S4.30 PMROYAL COMPLEX
2-JulROYALST. JOSEPH4.30 PMROYAL COMPLEX
3-JulTRINITYWESLEY4.30 PMROYAL COMPLEX
Premiere’s trophy quarter final fixtures:
30-JunCWW KANNANGARAST. SYLVESTER’S2.30 PMROYAL COMPLEX
1-JulPOWVIDYARTHA2.30 PMROYAL COMPLEX
2-JulDHARMARAJAL. ATHULATHMUDALI2.30 PMROYAL COMPLEX
3-JulMAHANAMAANANDA2.30 PMROYAL COMPLEX
Chairman’s trophy quarter final fixtures:
4 JulNALANDAST. ANNE’S2.30 PMTBC
4 JulPILIYANDALA MMVNUGAWELA MMV4.30 PMTBC
5 JulST. JOHN’SMALIYADEVA2.30 PMTBC
5 JulST. BENEDICT’SROYALPANADURA4.30 PMTBC
