Dialog Rugby League 2018/19 kicks-off this weekend

Captains of the participating teams of the Dialog Rugby League, except for CH & FC skipper Yoshitha Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka Rugby Deputy President Rizly Iliyas, Dialog Axiata General Manager – Brand and Media Harsha Samaranayake, Minister of Sports Faiszer Mustapha, SLR President Lasitha Gunaratne and SLR Secretary Thusitha Peiris

Sri Lanka’s top eight rugby teams will commence the battle for supremacy this weekend for the coveted Dialog Rugby League 2018/19 at Police Park, as last year’s runners up Navy SC take on Police SC at 4 p.m., while a strong Havelock SC outfit will scrum down against a strong Army SC outfit at their home grounds under lights at 6:30 p.m. on 9 November. 

CR & FC will scrum down against CH & FC at 4 p.m. at Longdon Place, whilst last year’s champions Kandy SC will take on Air Force SC at 4 p.m. at Air Force Grounds, Ratmalana on Saturday 10 November. 

The teams that will fight for the Dialog Rugby League 2018/19 title will include last year’s League and Clifford Cup champs Kandy, CR&FC, CH&FC, Havelock’s SC, Police SC, Army SC, Navy SC and Air Force SC.  

On completion of the second round of the 2018/19 tourney, a new format would include the participation of foreign players and a ‘Dialog Super Round’ which would include eight games over two weeks of play. The top four teams of ‘Dialog Super Round’ would then proceed to play for the Cup Championship, while the bottom four would fight it out for the Plate Championship. 

Tournament points earned up to completion of the second round will be carried forwarded to the ‘Dialog Supper Round’. The teams ending up with the highest points will be crowned as the Dialog Rugby League Cup Champions and the Dialog Rugby League Plate winners.

The 2017/18 season saw Kandy put on a powerful performance to edge out Colombo favourites Havelock’s SC to retain the championship and prestigious Clifford Cup Knockout Tournament for the fifth consecutive year.

This is Dialog’s seventh consecutive year in connection with the League and Clifford Cup knockout competitions which see a passionate following among the young and old in Sri Lanka. Dialog is also closely associated with developing cricket, rugby, football, volleyball and has sponsored national contingents to international events including the Paralympics.

Dialog Axiata also has a proud association with the Carlton Super 7s and the Sri Lanka Super 7s, which saw eight men’s and women’s franchise teams fight it out for the top prize.

During the season select matches can be watched live on Dialog Now on Dialog Television, MyTV via mobile and onwww.thepapare.com.