C RUGBY IS BACK ON SEPTEMBER 16

Old rugby rivalry and the spirit of competition during school days will be renewed when the C Rugby tournament is held for the ninth year the CR&FC grounds in Longdon Place on September 16.

The 7-a-side Tag Rugby tournament will bring together rugby loving old boys and girls in a carnival atmosphere, aimed at rekindling shared friendships.

This is the only tournament that brings together past students of brother and sister school teams on to the same pitch, watching a great day of rugby accompanied by music and fun filled activities for the entire family.

Popular local bands Slipping Chairs, Magic Box Mixup and Jam Lab will be joined by some of Sri Lanka’s best DJs including Lunatics to add to the party mood.

Starting from 1 pm and going on until midnight, there will be 44 games in total including exhibition games played before the Bowl Finals, which are scheduled for 7.30 p.m. with the Plate Finals and Cup Finals played thereafter.

“The aim is to bringing back old memories of camaraderie school support. The atmosphere will be like at the Hong Kong or Dubai Sevens but tag rugby,” said former Sri Lanka rugby star Dilroy Fernando.

“We tried out different things earlier. We had a boy’s only competition. We invited two girls without restrictions from any school. Last year we had old boys and girls from sister schools,” said Fernando, head of AGOAL International which is organising it for the seventh year.

“There are no tackles, no scrum, no line outs, no kicks in general play and no conversions. After five tags there will be turn over ball. It will be fast and quick,” said Fernando, a renowned international rugby referee, explaining the format of the competition.

“The aim is to get past players back to the games. Some of them don’t watch club games only school matches. We wanted them to participate and keep coming for matches,” he added.

With each team allowed two players above the age category of over-25, three players above 35 years of age and two female players from the sister school of the boy’s teams, the mix ensures that players from different eras come together. The excitement is palpable as 16 teams have already registered for the tournament.

They are past students of Royal/Visakha, Isipathana/St. Paul’s, St. Joseph’s/St. Bridget’s, Kingswood/Girls’ High School Kandy, Wesley/Methodist, D.S. Senanayake/Sirimavo Bandaranayake, Ananda/Musaeus, Trinity/Hillwood and Ladies, S. Thomas’/Bishop’s, St. Anthony’s/Good Shepherd Convent Kandy, St. Sylvester’s/St. Anthony’s Girl’s school, Dharmaraja/Mahamaya, St. Benedict’s/Good Shepherd Convent, Vidyartha/Pushpadana Girls School, St. Peters/Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya and Thurstan/Rathnayake Balika Vidyalaya.

The C Rugby Cup 2022 was clinched by old boys and girls of Dharmaraja/Mahamaya, while Trinity/Hillwood were Plate Champions and St. Benedict’s/Good Shepherd Convent won the Bowl Championships.

Partnering the tournament is PickMe as Official Mobility Partner, Elephant House as Official F&B Partner, YES 101 is Official Radio Partner, Papare.com and FriMi.

Representatives of the combined old boys and old girls rugby teams vying for the C Rugby Championships

Head of AGOAL International, National rugby player and renowned rugby referee Dilroy Fernando speaks at the media conference

Last year’s C Rugby Champions were the combined teams of old boys and girls of Dharamaraja College & Mahamaya Girls School

The C Rugby 2022 Plate Champions were old boys and girls of Trinity College, Ladies and Hillwood College

Head of AGOAL International, National rugby player and renowned rugby referee Dilroy Fernando sits at the head table with the sponsors at the media conference