Schools season to resume
Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) released a tentative calendar for the year, with 18 events lined-up for five different age categories. The most significant that are looked forward to from the competition lineup, the Under-19 League and Under-19 Knockout, comes in as the seventh and ninth of the list slotted to be played between June and August.
The event calendar, signed by the SLSRFA General Secretary, Nirodha Wijerama and released on February 27, has already completed its first event, the Under-14 Division III 7s for boys, which took place on February 20 at Ruwanwella. This competition covered schools from the Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa region, and its second installment has been scheduled for March 12 covering the reions of Central, Uva and Wayamba provinces. The venues will be Kandy, Kurunegala and Badulla.
April 23 and 24 are the dates for the Under-14 Division I 10-a-side Tournament, that will take place in Colombo, most probably at the Royal College Sports Complex. On April 30, the Under-12 Provincial 7s will take place at different venues across the island.
On May 7 and 8, the Under-14 Division II 10-a-side Tournament is scheduled to take place in Ruwanwella, Kandy, Kurunegala and Galle, followed by the Under-14 Girls 7s Tournament on May 21 and 22 at the same venues.
Then comes the most looked forward to Under-19 League Tournament, which has been scheduled from June 20 to July 24 as played annually and traditionally at venues across Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala and Galle. The Under-19 Knockout Tournament has been earmarked to take place between August 6 and 20 in Colombo.
In between the two main competitions, the SLSRFA will conduct the Under-16 Division I 10-a-side Tournament on July 30 and 31 in Kandy. The Division II 10s competition of the same age category will take place on August 27 and 28 in Kurunegala.
On September 3 and 4, the schools section has made plans to conduct the Under-19 Girls 7s Tournament, which will take place at venues in Galle, Ruwanwella and Kurunegala, which will also be the venues for the Under-16 Girls 7s Tournament scheduled for September 10 and 11.
The Under-19 Division I 7s Tournament has been slotted for September 17 and 18 at Colombo and Kandy, while its Division II competition will take place on September 24 and 25 at Kurunegala, Galle and Ruwanwella.
Three Under-18 competitions have been scheduled for October, in addition to the final competition of the list, the Under-12 Girls 7s Tournament. On October 1 and 2, the Under-18 Girls 7s Tournament will take place at Kurunegala, Ruwanwella and Galle. Colombo and Kandy will host the Under-18 Division I 7s Tournament on October 7 and 8, while its Division II competition will take place on October 15 and 16 at Kandy, Galle, Kurunegala and Ruwanwella.
The calendar will wind up with the Under-12 Girls 7s Tournament, which will take place at Kurunegala, Galle and Ruwanwella on October 29 and 30.