Reunions, excitement and fun at ‘C Rugby’ – Dharmaraja/Mahamaya team win main title
The combined team of Dharmaraja and Mahamaya emerged 'C Rugby' winners
Dharmaraja College emerged Cup champions, while Trinity and St. Benedict’s colleges captured the Plate and Bowl titles respectively at the 2022 version of the ‘C Rugby’ 7-a-side Tag Rugby Tournament, played at the CR&FC grounds in Longdon Place.
In the annual tag rugby gala, which draws school rugby stars of yesteryear, playing together with counterparts from their sister schools, Dharmaraja, combined with two female players from Mahamaya College, Kandy, recorded a close 1-0 win against St. Anthony’s College, who played together with female players from Good Shepherd’s Girls School, Kandy.
The tournament kicked off at 2.00pm and went on until midnight, where a fun filled day with action-packed tag rugby and entertainment reunited old friends from schools. This is earmarked as the first tournament to be initiated in Sri Lanka that brings together rugby players from brother and sister schools on to the same pitch, reuniting to share friendships and enjoy a great day of rugby, music and fun filled activities for the entire family.
Champions of the ‘C Rugby’ Cup title, Dharmaraja, overcame the combined team of Kingswood College and Girls’ High School, Kandy while the losing finalists St. Anthony’s defeated the combined side of Vidyartha College and Pushpadana Girls’ School, Kandy in the semi-finals.
The eight teams to reach the Cup quarter-finals after the group stage were Dharmaraja, St. Anthony’s, Kingswood, Vidyartha, D.S. Senanayake, Isipathana Greens, St. Sylvester’s and Trinity.
The winners advanced to the Cup semis, while the losers were slotted to play in the Plate semi-finals. Trinity College notched up the Plate title, combining with Hillwood College players to overcome the combined team of St. Sylvester’s College and St. Anthony’s Girls’ School, Katugastota by 1-0.
The Bowl final between Isipathana Whites and St. Benedict’s College was an enthralling battle, eventually ending in a scoreless stalemate, even after extra time. The winner was decided after a toss of a coin and Isipathana Whites walked away as Bowl champions.
Adding more glamour and fun to the rugby action on the pitch was a carnival atmosphere, street food, children’s play area, and music with popular local brands including Link, Magic Box Mixup, Slipping Chairs and Rugrats and some of the country’s best DJs kept the crowd going while the tournament was going in full swing from start to finish.
The event was organised by AGOAL International, headed by former Isipathana College and CR&FC rugby player and renowned rugby referee Dilroy Fernando. AGOAL International has organised this tournament six times previously.