Isipathana reign supreme. Clinches president’s trophy at Dialog schools rugby knockouts 2024

The Green Machine has done it again. Isipathana College added another glorious chapter to its storied rugby history by claiming the President’s Trophy at the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2024.

From the opening whistle to the final blow, the boys in green produced a performance that left no doubt about who deserved to lift the trophy. Every phase of play carried intent and precision. The forwards laid a relentless platform, while the backs finished with clinical execution. It was a display built on weeks of hard work, unity, and an unwavering belief in each other.

A match that had everything

The knockout final was a contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. The intensity never dropped. Every tackle was committed, every pass had purpose, and every try carried the weight of a team playing for something greater than themselves. It was the kind of rugby that reminds us why the schools game in Sri Lanka holds such a special place in the hearts of so many.

What stood out beyond the skill on display was the character of the squad. When the pressure mounted, the Isipathana boys responded with composure and discipline. These are qualities that do not appear overnight. They are forged through a rugby culture that has been built and nurtured at Isipathana over generations.

Isipathana College Captain Nisaja Jayaweera proudly holds the President’s Championship Trophy alongside Vice-Captain Shaahid Zumri, following their triumphant victory in the President’s Trophy match of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2024. The trophy was presented by Dialog Axiata Brand and Media Vice President Harsha Samaranayake and Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association President Kamal Ariyasinghe during a celebratory ceremony at the Sugathadasa Stadium. From left: Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association Treasurer Chanaka Dhananjaya, Isipathana College Principal Darshana Udawaththa, Education Ministry Deputy Director of Sports Upali Amaratunga, Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association Deputy President Buddhika Attanayake, Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association Secretary Manuja Nimmana, and St. Peter’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo

Carrying forward a proud legacy

This triumph is more than just a trophy for the cabinet. It is a statement about the enduring strength of Isipathana rugby. The players who took the field carried the hopes of every old boy, every coach, and every supporter who has poured their heart into the green jersey. They delivered in the manner that this proud rugby school has come to be known for.

A platform built by Dialog

Credit must also go to Dialog Axiata for their continued investment in schools rugby through initiatives like the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts. Their commitment to developing young rugby talent across Sri Lanka provides a stage where schoolboy players can test themselves at the highest level and grow into the next generation of national rugby stars.

Isipathana College stands proud today. The President’s Trophy is home where it belongs, and the Green Machine marches on.