• TCK taste league glory after 1987

Did you know? Fazil Marija (Head Coach) was just two years when Trinity College Kandy last won the Inter-School League Rugby Championship.

On Saturday, 2 August saw the end of what was dubbed the ‘38-year curse’, as the school on the hill finally tasted their long-awaited silverware after winning the match of the season against Wesley College 23-21 at the Lion’s Den in Pallekele.

Led by their talismanic warrior like captain Usman Safraz, Trinity walked the talk with a dashing performance after a heart-breaking start to the season where they lost the knockout final in a dramatic last minute thriller. 

Trinity’s League Championship Journey - 2025

Results: Round 1

• 6 June – vs. Sri Sumangala in Pallekele (won 49-15) 

• 14 June – vs. Vidyartha in Pallekele (won 74-14)

• 21 June – vs. Thurstan at Sugathadasa (won 48-19 ) 

• 28 June – vs. St. Joseph’s at CR & FC (won 29-7) 

• 5 July – vs. Royal in Pallekele (won 34-12)

Results: Cup segment

• 19 July – vs. S. Thomas’ in Mt. Lavinia (won 36-19) (Canon R.S. De Saram Shield)

• 26 July – vs. Isipathana in Pallekele (won 32-10)

• 2 August – vs. Wesley in Pallekele (won 23-21)

• 9 August – vs. St. Peter’s in Pallekele (Gen. Denis Perera Memorial Trophy) 

Upcoming Fixtures – 79th Bradby Shield – vs. Royal College

• 9 August – 1st leg in Pallekele

• 6 September – 2nd leg at Royal Complex

With Trinity bagging the league title with a match remaining, The Daily Morning spoke to some key figures that cannot be forgotten. 

Following are excerpts from the interview:

Safraz, congratulations on leading Trinity College to the league championship after a whopping 38 years. How does it feel to be the captain of this historic team, and what was the journey like to become unbeaten league champions? 

It’s a tremendous honour and a great privilege for me to be the captain of the Trinity College 1st XV rugby team. This has been a very special season. Becoming unbeaten league champions wasn’t an easy task at all; it was a result of a lot of hard work and a strong, collective mindset we developed as a team. We knew that every team we faced throughout the league campaign would give us a tough game, and they certainly did. We had to be at our best in every single match. The journey has been challenging, but it has also been incredibly rewarding to see our efforts pay off. We dedicated ourselves to a strict process, and our commitment to each other and to the game is what ultimately carried us through.

This victory marks the end of an almost four-decade-long drought for the league title. What’s next for the team, and what message do you have for the Trinity community? 

While winning the league title after 38 years is a huge accomplishment, the job isn’t completely finished yet. We still have one more crucial match against St. Peter’s College this Sunday (10). Our goal is to finish this season in style and continue our winning streak at our home base in Pallekele, which is truly our Lion’s den. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the entire Trinity College community. I would like to specially thank our Principal, Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara OSB, the coaching staff, our school staff, all the members of the Scrummage, our parents, and our supporters. Thank you for being with us every step of the way, for believing in us when it mattered most, and for your unwavering support. This championship belongs to all of us.

How do you feel about your team’s performance this season, especially after such a long wait to win the league?

I am really happy about our performance this season. Winning the league after 38 years is a huge accomplishment. It took me and the team three years to build a good team, so we have been working incredibly hard for this for a while now.

We know there is a huge support system behind this accomplishment, could you tell us a little about some of the key pillars of this fruitful journey?

I need to thank everyone who toiled day in and day out for this outcome. I have to first thank the Principal, Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara OSB, the Trinity Scrummage, and, of course, the coaching staff. I truly believe they were the key pillars behind this long-awaited success story.

You mentioned it was a process of many years. Can you elaborate on that?

Yes, it was definitely a well laid out meticulous process. When my team and I took charge of the hill capital school, we knew we could not do it in just one year. The coaching staff, the principal, the scrummage, and everyone involved with Trinity Rugby understood that it would take at least two to three years to build a champion team. We followed that process meticulously, and now we have the results to show for it.

The team had a tough start to the season with the knockout final loss to Isipathana. What was the turnaround like, and how did you manage to bounce back and remain unbeaten in the league so far?

That knockout final loss was absolutely a deal-breaker for us, but in a good way. It was a crucial learning experience for everyone – the players, the coaching staff, and the entire team. That defeat was the moment we were forced to re-evaluate our strategies, our mindset, and our overall approach. We had to rethink what we were developing and refocus our goals. It was the clear turning point of our entire journey this year, and it ultimately gave us the motivation and clarity we needed to perform so strongly in the league. We knew we had to be better, and that loss pushed us to achieve that.

As a champion coach, what message do you have for young rugby players in Sri Lanka about how to fight back after experiencing setbacks?

My message to all rugby players and anyone who loves this beautiful game is to understand that setbacks, heartbreaks, and losses are inevitable parts of life and sport. What truly matters is how you respond to them. You have to learn to trust the process. Believe in the hard work you have put in, stick with your team, and continue to do what you love to the best of your abilities. If you remain dedicated, focused, and resilient, the results will come. The journey is not always easy, but it’s the commitment to the process that ultimately leads to success. 

Fazil Marija, a trendsetter in Lankan Rugby is the first Sri Lankan to win School and Club Leagues as a captain and head coach.

• Won the School League as captain (Kingswood College) in 2004
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• Won the Club League as captain in 2010 and 2016 (Kandy SC)
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• Won the Club League as head coach in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2025 (Kandy SC)
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• Won the School League as head coach in 2025 (Trinity College)

Here is what Tyrrell Jason Rajapakse, the last unbeaten rugby captain of Trinity College (1987) shared with us on his alma mater’s storied tale:

Tyrrell, as the captain of the last unbeaten Trinity College rugby team from 1987, what are your thoughts on this year’s side winning the league championship after 38 years? 

It is absolutely well deserved. Congratulations to the Trinity College rugby side for securing the league championship. This is a tremendous achievement for Trinity rugby, and the team should be incredibly proud. The boys still have a lot of work ahead of them, with one more league game next week and then the two Bradby Shield matches coming up in late August and early September. I am wishing them all the very best for the next three games and hope they can finish the season on a high note. They have earned this success, and it is a great moment for the entire school community.

Soon after the League decider at Pallekele, The Daily Morning spoke to one of the ardent followers of the game, Imran Vilcassim, who very well rounded up what this beautiful game is all about.

How would you sum up the title deciding game and overall Trinity victory?

Congratulations to Trinity College on a truly historic achievement winning the Schools Rugby League after 38 long years. We cannot forget the quality of rugby Trinity produced this season. It wasn’t just dominant, it was beautiful to watch. Tactical precision, electric backline movements, fearless defence, and a fighting spirit that never faded. Week after week, they gave us true entertainment. Every pass, tackle, and try was a product of countless hours of practice, teamwork, and sacrifice.

As a proud Wesleyite, Saturday’s (2) game was a tough pill to follow. Naturally, I am disappointed by the result, we always want our school to win. But it is what it is. And truthfully, I am incredibly proud of the way our boys played. They pushed Trinity hard, played with heart and intent, and showed the kind of rugby that makes this sport so special. It is the only game where Trinity won within a margin of 5 points and had to fight hard to win. It was arguably one of the most memorable matches of the season, a true spectacle of school rugby at its finest.

It takes a solid system, relentless coaching, a strong team culture, and boys who are willing to bleed for each other. It takes sacrifice, leadership, unity, and the will to rise every time you fall. That is what Trinity had. And that is what made them champions. Once a student joins a school, they become part of that community. They carry its badge, adopt its values, and fight for its legacy.

This has been one of the most competitive seasons in schools’ rugby in recent years. Close games, high drama, rising standards, it's been a privilege to witness. So once again to Trinity College, congratulations. You didn’t just win the league. You inspired, you entertained, and you reminded us all what great school rugby looks like. Stand tall, boys. You have earned every inch of this glory.

Expert tactical analysis by World Rugby Coach Educator with New Zealand Rugby Boa Athu (The Stats pert on Straight up Rugby)

What were the main reasons for Trinity’s league victory?

One of the main reasons Trinity won the game was they took my advice and kicked their goals, including that stunning drop goal. Trinity was always in the fight, and they backed their defensive and attacking systems. While their attack was not as accurate as it could have been, they nailed their clear-cut opportunities.

How did Trinity’s performance differ between the first and second halves of the game especially in the league decider at Pallekele versus Wesley?

For example, in the first half, their idea of playing rugby in the right part of the field, which was the opposition’s 22, was right. But their execution was poor. To make matters worse, they were up against a very good counter-attacking side, and Wesley made all the plays. Unfortunately, Wesley could not finish all their opportunities.

What was the significance of the critical penalty goal and drop goal?

In the second half, Trinity changed their tactics, and when they had clear-cut opportunities to finish and score, they took them. This is exactly what they did, building a big enough lead on the scoreboard. Again, it comes back to that critical penalty goal and the drop goal by Shan Althaf. By the time Wesley came back into the game, it was simply too late. At the end of the day, the difference on the scoreboard was two points.

Was there a specific moment that was pivotal to the game’s (league decider) outcome?

There was a critical moment in the fourth minute of the game. Wesley had the opportunity to take a shot at goal, but they put the ball into touch and went for a line-out instead. They had a driving maul, but Trinity defended it and then came out of their own goal line. To me, that was a pivotal point, one I think Wesley will regret for a very long time. In short, it was another expensive lesson.

And to the winners go the spoils. I predicted that Trinity would win the league seven months ago on the Straight up Rugby platform, and that is precisely what they did.