Rise of school rugby’s old guard

Wesley and S. Thomas’ in race for runners-up berth as fancied teams fall from grace 

With the title of the Cup champions of the inter school rugby league already grabbed by Trinity College, another kind of contest in on for the runner-up slot with Wesley College, S. Thomas’ College and Royal College in the running.
S. Thomas’ College with 14 points are considered the closest contenders for the runners-up slot after almost turning tables on Royal in their last outing.
Wesley are also hard pressed to grab at least the second slot in the table after playing as one of the hot favourites only to go down to bottom of the table Isipathana College in a controversial climax followed by a second defeat at the hands of Trinity last week.
Wesley are currently in the third slot with 13 points and must beat the Thomians in their last outing this week to have a crack at the runners-up position and at the same time hope that Royal who are also on par with 13 points do not make headway against Isipathana.
The last game in the Cup segment will be a match between the new inter school league champs Trinity and St. Peter’s College who moved in as the defending champions at the start of the league.
It will be unthinkable to fathom the Peterites beating Trinity up in Kandy unless they (Trinity) decide to rest their big names and spoil their farewell sign-off that they earned through sheer hard work, excellent discipline and do-or-die commitment that put them back again in the reckoning after 38 years, probably the longest a reputed rugby playing school had to wait to regain the title.
Overall the Peterites were found wanting in many departments and would need a complete overhaul especially in discipline and focus if they are to compete at a high standard at future tournaments.
The 2025 school season will nevertheless go down as the rise of the past with teams like Trinity, S. Thomas’ and Wesley regaining face and Royal, Isipathana and St. Peter’s learning their lessons.