The all-important tournament format of the next all-island schools rugby season is likely to be finalised when the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) Tournament Committee is to meet today (8).

“We plan to have the league tournament first. But it won’t be the old league tournament because there is not enough time. We’ll decide on the format of the tournament when our Tournament Committee meets tomorrow (today),” Mendis said.

“The current plan is to join the two regular A and B groups, and to have 24 teams and later reduce them up to six, so that one school can play a minimum of five matches,” he explained.

“We have also decided to request for the approval of physical training first. We plan to start everything in about three months from now if the pandemic situation of the country is to improve. We will have a discussion with the Education Minister as well. Anyway, there won’t be a tournament before at least three months from now,” Mendis confirmed.

Mendis further said if the Advanced Level examination is to be held in August as scheduled, then the SLSRFA will have their first tournament by September and October. If the exam is postponed till September and October due to the pandemic, then the SLSRFA will plan to have their first tournament somewhere in July and August.