The Much-awaited Dialog Schools Rugby League Kicks-off in March 2020

L-R line up : Susantha Mendis – Deputy President, Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, Tony Amith- President, Sri Lanka Rugby Football Referee Association, Asanga Seneviratne - Chairman Competitions and High Performance, Asia Rugby, B.A. Abeyratne – President, Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, Amali Nanayakkara – Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, Lasitha Gunerathna – President, Sri Lanka Rugby, Nirodha Wijerama – Secretary, Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and Harsha Samaranayake – Senior General Manager, Brand & Media, Dialog Axiata PLC.

Division 1 A captains

Division 1 B captains

The highly anticipated Dialog Schools Rugby League kicks-off in March 2020, following a three-year sponsorship commitment for the Schools Rugby league and knockout tourneys, by Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider and prolific promoter of sports, in line with its vision of investing in our future, today. The inaugural game of the Dialog Schools Rugby League will kick-off between Dharmaraja College and St. Peter’s College at the St. Peter’s Grounds, Colombo. Division 1 of the league championship will consist of 30 matches played between 12 schools in two groups in a round robin format.

Division 1A of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2020 consists of Royal College, Colombo, St. Peter’s College, Colombo, St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, Wesley College, Colombo, S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Isipathana College, Colombo, Trinity College, Kandy, Science College, Mount Lavinia, Kingswood College, Kandy, Vidyartha College, Kandy, St. Anthony’s College, Katugasthota and Dharmaraja College, Kandy. Twenty-Four more schools will compete under the categories of Division 1B and 1C, while further 24 schools will compete in Division 2 of the Dialog Schools Rugby League. Additionally, Dialog Axiata will also be powering the boy’s U-10 to U-18 tourneys, as well as girl’s U10 – U19 tourneys of Schools Rugby.

Royal College, Colombo, who emerged champions during the last three seasons, will be one of the top contenders, along with St. Peter’s College, Colombo, Isipathana College, Colombo and Trinity College, Kandy. The Dialog President’s Knockout Tournament will kick-off in June, with the grand finale played at the picturesque Racecourse Ground, Colombo. In 2019, St. Peter’s College, Colombo, emerged winners (18-15) after beating arch rivals, St. Joseph’s College, Colombo in a thrilling final.

Commenting on the kick-off, Amali Nanayakkara, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC said, “This three-year sponsorship agreement between Dialog Axiata PLC and the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association for the Schools Rugby League and Knockout Tourneys is a testament to our dedication towards investing in Sri Lanka’s champions of tomorrow, fostering talent to progress from Schools Rugby to Club Rugby and ultimately to the level of National Rugby and excel in the international arena. As sponsors of Schools, Club and National Rugby, we are committed to developing talent and investing in our future, today, for the sport to reach the highest echelon in the Asian Rugby circuit. I wish the tourney all the success.”

Speaking at the official media launch event, B. A. Abeyrathana, President, Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, said, “The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) is pleased to have partnered with Dialog Axiata, one of the leading supporters of sports in Sri Lanka. The Schools Rugby tourney is the most followed sporting event in the school’s sports calendar and the partnership with Dialog Axiata will take the tournament and the sport to the next level. We hope to cultivate good sportsmanship and mutual respect among these players to produce well-rounded athletes.”

Dialog Axiata is the official sponsor of the Sri Lanka Tuskers, Club Rugby League and the Clifford Cup knock out tourney. Dialog also sponsors the Colombo leg of the Asia Sevens championship and is the official sponsor of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees. Dialog Axiata is also the proud sponsor of the Sri Lanka National Cricket, Volleyball and Netball teams and the Company has a close association with the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, Junior Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball tourneys, Premier Football, Schools Cricket, and Paralympic sports - by powering the Army Para Games, National Para Games and the Sri Lankan contingent to the World Paralympic Games.