Two of the strongest unbeaten teams in this year’s Dialog Schools Division One League Rugby Tournament — S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and Isipathana College Colombo — will lock horns in a much-anticipated encounter for the Rizvy Suhayb Memorial Trophy on Saturday, July 5 at the S. Thomas’ College Grounds in Mount Lavinia.
Both schools have remained unbeaten this season and are widely regarded as two of the top teams in the league. With pride, history, and silverware on the line, rugby fans can expect a thrilling and high-intensity battle.
The Thomians, led by their dynamic scrum half Venuka Wickramasuriya, have been impressive all season. They recorded victories against Kingswood College (29-28), Zahira College (43-19), and Mahanama College (50-35), showing both fighting spirit and attacking power. Playing on their home turf in Mount Lavinia, they will aim to extend their unbeaten run and lift the trophy in front of their loyal supporters
The Thomian side is coached by Anuranga Walpola, a former Isipathana, CR & FC, Kandy SC, and Sri Lanka hooker. He is assisted by burly Omalka Gunaratne, a former Isipathana skipper and Sri Lanka number eight, who guides the forwards
Defending Dialog President’s Trophy Knockout Champions, Isipathana College, led by flanker Thinethra Dodangoda, have also produced superb performances this season. They secured victories over Mahanama College (33-19), Kingswood College (32-22), and Dharmaraja College (32 -15), proving their strength and depth
Isipathana is coached by their experienced former player and national prop forward Dhanushka Boteju, who has built a well-balanced team capable of taking on any opponent.
This match will be played in memory of Rizvy Suhayb, the beloved captain of the unbeaten Thomian team of 1989, who sadly passed away last year due to a terminal illness. Under his leadership, S. Thomas’ College won all three major traditional trophies that season — the De Saram Shield(beating Trinity 16/3) Michael Gunaratne Trophy (beating Royal 3/0) and Lady Jayathilaka Shield (beating St. Joseph’s (9/4) and went on to win the prestigious Premadasa Trophy Knockout Championship by defeating Isipathana 15-3 in a memorable final.The man who moulded this champion team was Quentin Israel a rugby coach par excellence
Rizvy’s 1989 team was filled with talented names such as Naren Perera, Sanjeewa Samarapala, Mark Ratnayake, Suren de Chickera, Charrya de Saram, Niroshan Ratnaweera, Jeevanttha Jayathilake, Savantha de Saram, Reza Marja, Chirantha de Zoysa, Umanga Abeysekera, Harin Perera, Rizvi Suhayb (captain) Dilshard Ansari, and Sajith Gunaratne.
With both teams unbeaten and determined to honour their rich rugby traditions, Saturday’s clash is expected to be one of the finest school rugby encounters of the season. The Thomians will look to make history at home, while Isipathana will aim to prove their dominance once again
By – Daily News