The road map is set. Isipathana’s path through the 2024 schools rugby league

The wait is nearly over. The Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), kicks off on the 14th of June at Havelock Park, and the Green Machine will be right in the thick of it from day one.

Sixteen teams will compete in Division 1, Segment ‘A’ for the ultimate prize in Sri Lanka schools rugby. For every Isipathanian watching from the stands, streaming from home, or following along through the ICOIC community, here is everything you need to know about the season ahead.

How the league works

The 16 teams have been split into two groups of eight. Each side plays seven first-round matches between 14th June and 28th July. The top two teams from each group then advance to the super round, which runs from 10th to 18th August. There will be a rest week between the first round and the super round for the qualifying teams to regroup. Once the super round concludes, the league champions will be crowned, followed by the President’s Trophy Knockout competition for the ‘A’ Division.

Fixtures and venues for the super round will be confirmed after the first round is completed.

The groups

Isipathana College have been drawn in Segment 1A alongside some familiar rivals.

Segment 1A: Isipathana College, St. Anthony’s College, D.S. Senanayake College, Trinity College, S. Thomas’ College, Science College, Dharmaraja College, Sri Sumangala College

Segment 2A: St. Peter’s College, Royal College, St. Joseph’s College, Wesley College, Vidyartha College, Zahira College, Kingswood College, Thurstan College

Two newcomers join the top flight this year. Thurstan College from Colombo and Sri Sumangala College from Kandy, both stepping up to compete at the highest level of schools rugby for the first time.

Isipathana’s first-round fixtures

Here is the full schedule for the Green Machine’s seven first-round matches. Mark these dates.

Four home matches at Havelock Park and two away trips, including the always challenging journey to Nittawela to face St. Anthony’s in the final week of the first round. The Trinity match in week five at Havelock Park is one the entire Isipathana family will have circled in red.

What happened last year

For those who need a reminder, and for those who need the motivation. St. Peter’s College were the double winners in 2023, claiming both the league championship and the President’s Trophy Knockout. Isipathana finished as league runners-up and were one of the four teams in the super round alongside Royal College and St. Anthony’s College.

The Greens have unfinished business. The target is clear. Go one better.

The competition will be fierce

St. Peter’s College start the season as pre-tournament favourites once again, with Isipathana and Royal expected to challenge strongly. But do not sleep on the likes of Trinity, S. Thomas’, D.S. Senanayake, and Wesley, all of whom are capable of causing problems when the league heats up.

On a positive note for the overall standard of the tournament, the SLSRFA has appointed an Independent Technical Advisory Committee, facilitated by Dialog Axiata PLC, to focus on improving quality, discipline, and player safety across the league and knockout competitions. It is a step in the right direction for schools rugby in Sri Lanka.

The ICOIC family is ready. Seven weeks of first-round action, then the super round, then the knockout. Let the season begin.