• Introduces knockout-style climax aiming to revive spectator interest
• Backed by new sponsorship and national squad planning

This season’s format is more than a structural tweak; it’s a strategic experiment in audience engagement, commercial revitalisation, and national team alignment. 

If executed well, it could redefine how Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) balances tradition with modern sporting demands.

In the 2025-’26 Rugby League season, there is a clear break from the league’s history, where the points table traditionally determines the winner based on overall standings. 

There will be a first round among nine teams, with eight advancing to the second round. The top four will vie for the cup, while the bottom four will play for the plate. At the end, the first and second in the Cup and Plate segments will play in a grand finale, and the winners will take the league titles. 

Presented at the formal launch were the Fernandos of Sri Lanka Rugby – President Pavithra and Deputy President Shanitha. And followed by an explanation by Shanaka Amarasinghe of the Tournament Committee. Incidentally, all three are from the home of rugby. 

You don’t need a rocket scientist to figure out why Kandy panicked with the change of format.

This year’s format marks a departure from the traditional points table-based winner, introducing a more dramatic, playoff-style conclusion. The top two teams from both Cup and Plate segments will play in the grand finals. Winners of each final will be Cup and Plate champions, respectively.

Strategic intent, as Pavithra Fernando explains, is designed to revive rugby’s popularity, aiming to reignite fan engagement by offering suspense and thematic progression. The shift responds to declining crowd interest in club rugby, aiming to make every match count.

Kandy SC’s reported unease reflects how this format disrupts the longstanding dominance based on consistency, favouring knockout performances.

Sponsorship and commercial backing

Maliban joins as the new League Sponsor, aligning its consumer-centric brand ethos with rugby’s revival.

Dialog, once a cornerstone of SLR, reaffirms its support after a hiatus.

National squad planning and Asian Games focus

Fernando’s administration plans to contract players for both sevens and 15s squads, ensuring availability for national duty.

The tournament calendar will be synchronised to support Asian Games medal ambitions, reflecting a more integrated approach to domestic and international rugby.

Kandy SC did send a letter of protest, prompting a detailed response from SLR President Fernando.

Can Sri Lanka’s dominant rugby champions expose the flaws of the format changes by simply winning?

The governance defence

In his reply, Fernando maintains that the council is following the proper procedure. 

“The Executive Committee had unanimously approved this decision at its meeting held on 14 October 2025, just one week after the election of the new administration at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 8 October,” he wrote, disputing suggestions that the decision came merely one week before the tournament’s commencement.

Fernando noted that Kandy’s representative, Ashan Ratwatte, had been present at the council meeting. There had been no objections when the grand final format had been discussed in detail. 

“It is therefore concerning that the same decision is now being questioned almost three weeks later, particularly after sponsorship agreements have been finalised based on this structure,” the SLR President added.

The argument raises essential questions about club and provincial representation. Should representatives attending council meetings have the authority to make binding decisions on the spot? Or should they be granted time to consult their club hierarchies? 

Fernando’s stance suggests that those representing clubs at the apex body must be empowered decision-makers, not mere attendance markers — a challenge that some clubs may need to address internally. 

It is indeed amusing when Fernando says that the President of the Kandy Sports Club conveyed that the Kandy representative did not understand the format.

On the other hand, did the representative of Kandy remain silent, not knowing in which way the wind blew, probably still suffering from the humiliation he experienced when previous administrators silenced him? 

This incident highlights the urgent need to encourage representatives to open up, which in turn will benefit Sri Lankan rugby. 

However, no Kandy club was in the habit of sending a lower-ranked official who could not make a national-level decision, as he was there to represent and protest the referee’s failure to see a knock-on or a forward pass. Men who could make a micro-observation faced by the club but were not empowered to be a decision contributor. 

The commercial justification

Fernando defends the format change as necessary for the long-term health of rugby.

“Over the years, it has become evident that spectator interest in club rugby has steadily declined, with stadiums that once drew capacity crowds now remaining largely empty for most matches,” he explained. “This change aims to reignite fan enthusiasm, enhance commercial value, and restore the excitement that once defined domestic rugby.”

He drew parallels to international sport, noting: “The India Women’s Cricket Team famously won the Cricket World Cup despite losing three matches in the round-robin stage, because finals reward the ability to perform when it matters most. It is not a question of fairness but one of competition, resilience, and audience engagement.”

The dwindling spectator interest needs more in-depth analysis and a data-based study. Despite the dwindling numbers, though not comparable to the past, Kandy has a fair number of spectators at matches compared to Colombo. 

The philosophical divide

Yet this reasoning of a grand final concept overlooks a fundamental principle: a league is meant to reward consistency. It’s a long-form contest where resilience, planning, and depth matter across an entire season. 

The 2025-’26 format introduced volatility where validation is due, reducing months of methodical excellence to a single match — one that could easily swing on injury, weather, or a contentious refereeing call.

Is this to be a playoff league like super rugby? It was a traditional table-based competition — until it wasn’t. 

Just as much as Kandy had voiced its concern down at the waterhole at the park, members were criticising a statement made by a stalwart that he would advise the boys to play to be number two and then pip the first place in the grand final. 

When you aim to be number two, several things can happen — strategically, psychologically, and practically — in terms of mindset and motivation. On the other hand, if you are third, you are out. But you aim for one and you may drop to two, and in the new format, you still have a chance.

Hunger stays alive when you are close enough to the top to remain competitive, but not complacent. 

This attitude may not fuel consistent growth. In team dynamics, aiming for number two can mean mastering the art of influence without needing the spotlight.

Risks and trade-offs are that you might unconsciously limit your ambition or settle for less than you are capable of. You may miss out on recognition, resources, or opportunities reserved for top performers, while aiming for second place can feel like self-sabotage.

What governance owes the game

SLR must now confront a critical question: what kind of competition does it want to run? 

If finals are to be part of the league’s DNA, they have to be transparently built into the structure from the outset. 

On the other hand, after a long period under competent authorities and task forces, it was, though a short time after the election on 8 October, SLR that had made the games attractive to sponsors and spectators. 

The future of Sri Lankan rugby depends not just on exciting finales but on the integrity of the systems that produce them.

A protest of performance

Kandy’s response was strategic defiance. They rejected foreign player recruitment, trusted their youth pipeline, and adhered to their systems. 

Their silence was not submission; it was restraint. Rather than engaging in a prolonged public dispute, they have decided to play and let the scoreboard speak for itself. 

Some called it the smile-and-file attitude, while others called for a critical analysis.

CR the choice 

CR & FC is the new punching bag to hit as they feel fit, as the Reds seem to dominate most places. 

The Kandyan dancers have a brief respite from their breathing. Look inwards and ask who has to take the blame. 

It appears that Pavithra Fernando and his group had read the Constitution and done their homework. 

At the same time, some were eternally in the courtroom, while others could not obtain a nomination paper correctly, missing an opportunity to be on the Executive Committee. Having failed on that point, at least look to make the best of the council where there is a place, although they meet only once every three months. 

There are also many committees, such as reviews and technical, where you can get involved for the betterment of the game.

It is understood that the new committee stood aghast, learning that for over five years there had been no training of match commissioners, an essential arm of today’s match day. 

The same applies to citing commissioners and match-day medical personnel. Once realisation dawned, SLR conducted a quick assessment and got the ball rolling to have a refresher course before the season began. 

What is more important is for clubs and provinces to encourage and supply members to fit into these roles. Or else, you will continue bickering like you do with the referees, while you try to appease them with invitations for the after-match fellowship.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this publication)