Schools 15’s team rugby return to action in few days, so the rugby lovers over here in Kandy are happy to hear that the inter school tournament is about to kick off, and all Kandy schools are in good form. So, after a lapse of nearly two years the schools rugby fever gets back into action, All Kandy schools are in full form to give their best.
The Kandy schools are in Segment “A” Group I Trinity College this time will be led by Lithmal Moragoda will play their first game with S. Thomas College, St. Anthony’s College led by Jeyan Amerasinghe will play Royal College in their first game, and Kingswood College will play St. Joseph’s College in their first game.
Then in the Group II “A” Vidyartha College‘s first game is with Wesley College, and Dharmaraja College this time are with co-captains Thenuka Wickremasignhe and Sawumya Wijesiri their first game is against St. Peter’s College. The schools still to get their fixtures are- St. Sylvester’s College, Segment “C” Group III Sri Rahula College and Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College.
Trinity College who started with a friendly game against Dharmaraja College and also played with their old boy’s side are hard at training and they have come out with their fixtures, with their all important game the Bradby Shield Encounter against Royal College-commonly known as “The Bradby” - is the pinnacle of school season. The encounter consists of two legs, one being played in Kandy and the other in Colombo. The winner is decided on the aggregate of the scores from these two matches,.
Royal College and Trinity College were among the first elite schools in Sri Lanka and the first historic match between these schools was played on the 31st of July, 1920. This was made a yearly encounter, with Trinity College winning for the first 21 years, until the Royalists recorded their first victory in 1941. In 1945, the Principal of Royal College, Edward Lawrence Bradby, offered a Shield to which the Principal of Trinity College, C.E. Simithraaratchy readily agreed.
The shield which was to be held for a period of one year, which would be awarded to the College that scored the higher aggregate of points scored in the two Legs one in Colombo and the other in Kandy, which started in 1943. The series has been played annually ever since other than in 1971, where only the first leg was played due to 1971 JVP insurrection with the Shield being presented to Royal College on the result of the 1st leg in which Royal led by Fred Perera won 22-3. In 2020 and 2021, the series was called off due to COVID-19 pandemic.
This year Trinity College is expected to play their first game against S. Thomas’ College, which is played for Canon de Saram trophy. Meanwhile their Bradby Shield games will be played on August 20 1st leg in Colombo and the 2nd leg on September 3 in Kandy.
Trinity’s official fixtures are 25th June S. Thomas’ College at Pallekele, 1st July St Anthony’s College at Nittawela, 16th July St. Joseph’s College at Pallekelle, 23rd July Kingswood College at Pallekelle. August 20 1st leg of the Bradby in Colombo and the 2nd leg on September 3 in Kandy.
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