The 13th Milo Presidential Knockouts trophy is set to kick off this Friday at Sugathadasa Stadium with the participation of 7 teams who would go head to head for silverware contention.
Read More: Neutral venues for Schools Knockouts; St. Anthony’s & Dharmaraja included
The Milo Presidents’ Knockout trophy that started off during the year 1993 as the Premadasa Trophy has been an exciting contest that is conducted as a finale to the Schools Rugby League involving the top teams from the schools arena.
A tournament that initially saw the involvement of only the top schools has over the years evolved to have the participation of over 50 teams who will compete across in the Presidents’, Prime-Minister and Chairman trophy tournaments respectively.
This year’s tournament is set to kick off this Friday with the quarterfinal matches and will span over a duration of over two weeks with the elusive final set to be played on the 24th of June 2017.
Rugby will be back to Sugathadasa after a lapse of over two years with the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) opting to utilise the grounds to play the quarterfinals as well as the semifinals.
Read More: Neutral venues for Schools Knockouts; St. Anthony’s & Dharmaraja included
Speaking at the press conference held ahead of the President’s trophy, Hon. Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam stressed the importance of sport in uniting people.
“Today we are inculcating extra-curricular activities and sports in the education curriculum allowing school going children go beyond the classroom teaching. “
“Sport is a medium that does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed or caste. This is what is expected in the country at the moment.”
The exclusive final encounter of the Presidents’ Trophy is set to take place at the Racecourse Stadium appended with all grandeur.
Seven teams will vie the prize this year with league winners Royal College opting out of the competition. The seven participating teams will be Isipathana, Trinity, Wesley, St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s, St. Anthony’s and Dharmaraja.
Know how the teams finished in the league
With Royal College opting out, Dharmaraja College will receive a walkover in the quarter-finals and will start their campaign from the semifinal stage.
Read More: The Undisputed Kings of Schools’ Rugby
Title sponsors Milo Sri Lanka will also mark 25 years on to its partnership in sponsoring rugby will continue to empower the championship for yet another year.
“We have been sponsoring rugby for 25 years which is almost three generations. When we started sponsoring the then Premadasa Trophy we only had 20 schools.”
“We had a challenge to uplift the sport played by 20 schools and the joint effort by the media, the Ministry of Education and Milo have borne fruit as the structure has produced great players who have emerged through the system”
Fixtures
|
Date |
Match | Team 1 | Team 2 |
Venue |
|
| 9th June 2017 | QF 4 | Wesley College | St. Joseph’s College | Sugathadasa | |
| 11th June 2017 | QF 2 | Isipathana College | St. Anthony’s College | Sugathadasa | |
| 10th June 2017 | QF 3 | Trinity College | St. Peter’s College | Sugathadasa | |
| 17th June 2017 | SF1 | Dharmaraja College | Winner QF 4 | Sugathadasa | |
| 18th June 2017 | SF2 | Winner QF 2 | Winner QF 3 | Sugathadasa | |
| 24th June 2017 | Final | Winner SF 1 | Winner SF 2 | Racecourse | |
ThePapare.com will bringing you live action from the Milo Presidents’ Knockouts Trophy that kicks off on the 9th of June 2017 on Dialog TV Channel 1, MyTV and on www.thepapare.com
