MILO SCHOOLS RUGBY KNOCKOUT CELEBRATES SILVER JUBILEE
The U20 inter-schools rugby league segment came to a close with Royal College coming out victorious emerging champions and now the focus is on the Milo schools rugby knockout tournament sponsored by Nestle Lanka Ltd with three matches, one each of the Chairman’s Trophy, Premier Trophy and President’s Trophy which are scheduled to be kicked off from 2pm at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
This time around the rugby tournament is of special significance as it will be the Silver Jubilee sponsorship celebrations of Nestle Lanka Ltd which began in the year 1992.
Bandula Egodage, Vice President Corporate Affairs, Nestle Lanka Ltd briefing the media at a press conference held at Jaic Hilton said, “This has been a long but successful journey which began two and a half decades ago. When we initially got involved in 1992 there was only 23 teams around the island playing rugby but today we are proud to see that it has expanded to over 150 schools around the island.”
Egodage added, “Though there were only 23 teams we were not discouraged as we took up the challenge and with the support we received from the media, the success of schools rugby and the minister of education played a crucial role in the success of schools rugby going from strength to strength.”
In conclusion he mentioned, “Our support is not only for rugby at school but also other major sports and we will continue our commitment to take school sports to greater heights in the future too.”
Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education who graced this special Silver Jubilee emphasised, “Sports is very important for school children. We need children to combine studies and sports for them to go beyond the classroom by being involved in sports to gain the will power to face the good and bad of life and to become useful citizens.”
The minister also thanked the sponsors Nestle Lanka Ltd for their commitment in uplifting sports at school level as well as the officials of the SLSRFA for the untiring efforts made towards developing the game around the island.
Speaking further the minister said, “We are drawing up plans to hire the services of 3,800 coaches which will be for all sports.” He concluded by saying that this has been put forward for cabinet sanction with the aim of approving the distribution of finances to all sports.
B.A. Abeyratne, President, SLSRFA and Principal, Royal College mentioned that Royal was forced to pull out in the last minute due to eight of their key players having sustained serious injuries.
He said the decision was taken after the advice given by the team doctor who said that six of the players will have to undergo operations which will hinder their chances of recovery if they are to play the tournament.
With Royal pulling out, the tournament will now be contested by seven teams comprising of five teams from the top division including league runner up Isipathana College, Trinity College, Wesley College, St. Peter’s College and St. Joseph’s College who will joined by the league plate champions and runners up St Anthony’s College and Dharmaraja College.
The tournament was scheduled to kick off with the match between Royal and Dharmaraja who will now get a walkover. It will now kick off with the match between Wesley and St Joseph’s which has been brought forward from June 12.
The Chairman’s Trophy and the Premier Trophy will be conducted concurrently with the teams contesting the Chairman’s Trophy being St Anne’s Kurunegala, Vidyaloka MV Galle, Royal Panadura, Moratu MV, Thalduwa Buddhist MV, Nugawela MMV, Carey and Sri Rahula Katugatota.
Ananda College along with Nalanda College, Thurstan College, St Sylvester’s College, St Benedict’s College, Richmond College, Maliyadeva College and St Aloysius College Galle will be the teams in the fray for the Premier Trophy.
The quarter finals and semi finals will be played at the Sugathadasa Stadium and the finals are slotted to be played at the Race Course ground in Reid Avenue.