Clifford Cup Rugby kicks off on May 27

The ‘Nippon Paint Clifford Cup knock-out Rugby Tournament is scheduled to kick off on May 27 and will continue till June 5 with the participation of the eight teams.

Soon after the completion of the remaining league tournament matches played for‘Nippon Paint Rugby League’ which is scheduled to commence on the 13 of next month, the organizers have decided to conclude the remaining matches the following week (May 20/21 and 22) before they embark on the Clifford Cup Tournament.

By the end of these matches, a total of ten weeks of the intensive competition of rugby season will conclude and the knock-out stage will commence where the venue for these matches is yet to be finalized. After ousting the incumbent Sri Lanka Rugby executive committee and council by the former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa due to non-satisfactory of their progress, the competent authority headed by Amal Edirisuriya, Director General of Sport took over proceedings to run the tournament.

Kandy Sports Club defending champions still remain as the only undefeated team so far in the tournament to hold the fort heading the points table with 40 points winning all their games. Havelocks had acquired 35 points from their allotted eight games winning seven and losing only to Kandy after a close tussle. CH and FC managed to notch up four wins losing three fixtures. They have scored 20 points and are slated third on an aggregate than the Air Force who too has collected the same number of points by winning an equal number of games. Navy occupied fourth place with 15 points managing to win only three games while Police are positioned fifth with the same number of points with similar results. Navy heads the points table on higher aggregate than Police. CR& FC is placed seventh with 13 points with two wins while Army is positioned last in the points table with a single win.

The itinerary of the remaining matches - May 13 & 14 - CR & FC vs Navy, CH & FC vs Kandy, SC vs Havelock SC vs Police May 20/21 and 22 - CR & FC vs Army, Navy vs Air Force, Police vs CH & FC, Havelock SC vs Kandy SC.