The Dialog School Rugby Season for 2025 is set to kick off on 24 April with the President’s Trophy Knockout Tournament, which will be a departure from the tournament’s previous tried and tested formula.

The Schools’ Rugby season has been kicked off for the best part of two decades with the League Tournament, with the Knockout bringing up the curtain.

However, this time around the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) has opted to deviate from the long-held practice and instead commence the season with the Knockout to prevent schools from pulling out at the eleventh hour.

“We decided to kick off the season with the Knockout, as that will enable all 16 ‘A’ Division schools to compete, rather than withdrawing at the last minute,” said SLSRFA Secretary  Manuja Nimmana.

“The practice of teams pulling out from the Knockout has been going on for too long and that also tends to dilute the quality of this tournament. Following talks with all stakeholders, we decided to revise the tournament structure and defer the League. Let’s see how this works out.” The Knockout Tournament is set to last till 18 May.  

The forthcoming League Tournament, expanded to include 18 teams, will now kick off on 2 June and conclude with the final on 10 August, according to Nimmana.

Ananda and Mahanama have gained promotion to the Schools’ Rugby ‘A’ Division segment for the 2025 season.

Their inclusion brings the total number of competing teams in the League to 18, adding more intensity and setting forth new rivalries to the popular tournament.

Defending champions St. Peter’s headline Group ‘A’, joined by D.S. Senanayake, Wesley, Science, St. Anthony’s, and newly-promoted Ananda.

Group ‘B’ is headed by last year’s runners-up Isipathana and the rest in the group are S. Thomas’, Kingswood, Dharmaraja, Zahira, and spirited debutants Mahanama.

Group ‘C’ features Royal, Trinity, St Joseph’s, Vidyartha, Thurstan, and Sri Sumangala Kandy.

(JK)