• Wesley-Joes, Royal-Kingswood pick of the pre-quarters 

The President’s Trophy Under-19 Knockout Rugby Tournament which is set to herald this year’s schools’ rugby season, is set to kick off with the pre-quarterfinals on 25 April and with 16 schools in the fray, The Daily Morning Sports learns. 

Defending champions Isipathana, St. Peter’s, Trinity, Royal, S. Thomas’, Thurstan, St. Joseph’s, Wesley, Zahira, St. Anthony’s Katugastota, Science, Dharmaraja, D.S. Senanayake, Kingswood, Vidyartha, and Sri Sumangala Kandy, will be the teams who will set the ball rolling in the sudden death version of the game this year. 

According to the match schedule which has been formulated by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), the clashes between Wesley and St. Joseph’s at Royal Sports Complex on 25 April and the one between Royal and Kingswood at Longden Place on 27 April, will be the two most high-prolife ties in the last 16 phase.

Title-holders Isipathana are set to tackle Sri Sumangala on 27 April at Longden Place, while last season’s President’s Trophy runners-up St. Peter’s are set to meet Thurstan on 26 April at Havelock Park, in the pre-quarterfinals.

The winners of the St. Peter’s-Thurstan pre-quarterfinal encounter and the winners of the Zahira-Vidyartha game are set to clash in their quarterfinal match at Royal Sports Complex on 3 May.

The winners of the Trinity-St. Anthony’s game and the winners of the S. Thomas’-Science match, are set to face in their quarterfinal match at Havelock Park on 3 May.

Meanwhile, the winners of the Dharmaraja-D. S. Senanayake pre-quarterfinal fixture and the winners of the Royal-Kingswood tie, are set to battle it out in their quarterfinal game at Havelock Park on 4 May.

The winners of the Wesley-Joes’ pre-quarterfinal match and the winners of the Sri Sumangala Kandy and Isipathana game, are slated to scrum down in their quarterfinal clash at Royal Sports Complex on 4 May.

The two semis are to be held on 9 and 11 May at Royal Sports Complex and at Havelock Park respectively, with the grand final on 18 May, with the venue still to be decided. 

When contacted the President of the SLSRFA Kamal Ariyasinghe said that they were yet to officially release the match schedule to the media but agreed that the tournament itinerary had already been posted on various social media sites and groups.

He added that they were rather helpless in such a situation but confirmed that the match schedule that has gone viral online is more or less the finalised line up.  

The President’s Trophy Pre-Quarterfinal Schedule

Wesley-St. Joseph’s Royal Sports Complex – 25 April

Trinity-St. Anthony’s Kandy Nittawela Stadium – 25 April

St. Peter’s-Thurstan Havelock Park – 26 April

Zahira-Vidyartha Royal Sports Complex – 26 April

S. Thomas’-Science Longden Place – 26 April

D.S. Senanayake-Dharmaraja St. Peter’s Grounds – 27 April

Royal-Kingswood Longden Place – 27 April

Isipathana-Sri Sumangala Royal Sports Complex – 27 April