Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 kick off on June 14
Harsha Samaranayake (Vice President - Brand and Media, Group Marketing, Dialog Axiata PLC) handing over the sponsorship cheque for the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 to Kamal Ariyasinghe, (President, SLSRFA) in the presence of Upali Amarathunga (Deputy Director, Sports and Physical Education, Ministry of Education). Also in the picture (from left) Damitha Perera (Treasurer, SLSRFA), Nirodha Wijerama (Secretary, SLSRFA), Pubudu Aluthgedara (Senior General Manager / Head - Business - Media and Content, Dialog Axiata PLC) and Prashan Costa (Senior Manager - Marketing Operations, Dialog Axiata PLC)
The much-awaited season opener of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 will kick-off on June 14 with the season’s, Division 1 Segment ‘A’ contenders, St. Joseph’s College, who will take on St. Anthony’s College at the Bogambara grounds in Kandy, while the second match of the season will be played June 17 between
S. Thomas’ College and Wesley College at Mt. Lavinia. In the Division 1 Segment ‘A’ of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 tourney two additional teams, Zahira College and
D.S. Senanayake College, who got promoted from Segment 1 Group ‘B’ from last year’s tourney, will join the 12 teams from last year to compete in 42 matches of the 2023 season.
The 12 other schools who will compete for the Division 1 Segment ‘A’ of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2022 consists of Isipathana College, Royal College, St. Peter’s College,
St. Joseph’s College, Wesley College, S. Thomas’ College, Trinity College, Science College, Kingswood College, Vidyartha College,
St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota and Dharmaraja College. A further 24 more schools will compete under the categories of Division 1 Segment ‘B’ and ‘C’, while another 29 schools will compete in Division 2 and Division 3 of the Dialog Schools Rugby League to secure the top position in their respective group. Isipathana,
St. Peter’s, St. Joseph’s, Royal, S. Thomas’ and Trinity are expected to be the top contenders for this year’s tourney.
“This year’s tourney will be the first full season played by the schools and since the Covid-19 pandemic and we expect a large audience at the matches by
Sri Lanka’s rugby community in the upcoming three months,” Kamal Ariyasinghe, the President of
Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) said.
“School rugby is one of the most followed tournaments in Sri Lanka and we are pleased that the SLSRFA is able to conduct a full season which will be a much-needed boost for the sport and the following,” Harsha Samaranayake, Vice President, Brand and Media, Group Marketing of Dialog Axiata PLC said. “Supporting the future champions of
Sri Lanka sports is very close to our heart. I wish SLSRFA and all schoolboys the very best for the 2023 season.”
Last season, the Green Machine, Isipathana College, put a fine display of their historical dominance of the sport to walk away as champs of Dialog Schools Rugby League and Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout tourneys. The Dialog School’s Rugby Knockout Tournament will kick off 11 weeks later at an independent venue organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA).
As the principal sponsor, Dialog Axiata has made arrangements to live stream the matches via thepapare.com, Dialog VIU mobile app and will also be shown live on Dialog TV Channel 126 in the interest of all present boys, old boys, parents, supporters, well-wishers and the rugby-loving public.
