Trinity College, Kandy (TCK) is the first school in Sri Lanka to play uninterrupted rugby for over a century; the school reached its centenary year in 2006, having played the oval ball game since 1906.
Trinity College is fondly known as the ‘cradle of rugby in Ceylon.’ Even though Kingswood College were pioneers in playing the game, it was Trinity that continued the rugby tradition after their hometown rivals had to give up the game due to an unfortunate incident after playing the inaugural inter-collegiate (Kingswood vs. Trinity) rugby game in 1906.
Centre Usman Safraz, a third year coloursman and Lionsman, will be leading the red, gold, and blue outfit from the hill capital with Nisith Kumarasinghe and Shan Althaf – the lad with the golden boot – as Co-Vice Captains.
Fazil Marija, a former Kingswood, Sri Lanka, and Kandy SC Captain, will be the Head Coach for Trinity in his third season. The legendary icon will be assisted by Viraj Prashantha along with the tactical brains of Kapila Silva as Manager.
Trinity in their last Round 1 game, which was a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Bradby Shield, secured a thumping 34-12 victory and forced Royal to take all their points through penalties. TCK won last year’s Bradby after a decade and they have a big task ahead to safeguard the shield in the hills.
The hill country team last won a league title under the mercurial leadership of Tyrrell Jason Rajapakse in 1987, a whopping 38 years ago. They came very close to ending the title drought in 2017 under Nathan Yee Chang, yet slipped away in the last gasp.
It was in 2011 that Trinity last tasted silverware when they won the President’s Trophy Knockouts under Murad Ramzeen, beating Isipathana. This year, they almost pulled it off but Isipathana had other ideas when they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Can Trinity finally put an end to its 38-year league curse? That will be decided during the course of the next three weeks.
Trinity College 1st XV squad
Usman Safraz (Captain), Shan Althaf (Vice Captain), Nisith Kumarasinghe (Vice Captain), Murad Raizan, Shrayan Satheeshkumar, Udaan Wijekoon, Rithika Weragama, Sadeesha Weerawamsa, Dishal Thomas, Nisala Perera, Mohommed Waqidh Ali, Seth Wickramanayake, Ishara Premachandra, Tevin Udukumbura, Achintha Jayasena, Ravindu Jayasinghe, Mukshidh Siyam, Ridma Nimneth, Ammaar Manzil, Manusha Silva, Akash Fernando, Ramindu Wanasinghe, Dimath Ambapitiya, Kevin Weerakoon, Evin Jayasena, Abdul Malik, Maleesha Jayaneth, Onija Kodithuwakku, Bilal Nazeer, Amhar Faizal, Heshan Kumarawansa, Naheel Jayah, Mindinu Dissanayake, Hamza Abdeen, Minula Yaddehige, Vihanga Indhusara, Mohommed Asri, Deemal Thilakarathne, Ravishka Dissanayake, and Avishka Jayasekara
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)
Fixtures: Cup segment
- 19 July – vs. S. Thomas’ in Mt. Lavinia (Canon R.S. De Saram Shield)
- 26 July – vs. Isipathana in Pallekele
- 2 August – vs. Wesley in Pallekele
- 9 August – vs. St. Peter’s in Pallekele (Gen. Denis Perera Memorial Trophy)
79th Bradby Shield – Royal vs. Trinity
- 9 August – 1st leg in Pallekele
- 6 September – 2nd leg in Colombo