Schools League likely to restart on Nov 20

Wednesday, 8 July 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

Schools Rugby League 2020 is yet to re-start after the pandemic entered its arena, earlier this year. Some of the schools played two of their league matches in Round 1, and the last one to be worked off was the game in Kandy back in March. With the Advanced Level examinations likely to be postponed

Susantha Mendis

further, the recommencement of the Schools League is likely to take place on 20 November.

Speaking to Daily FT, Sri Lanka schools Rugby Football Association (SSRFA) Deputy President Susantha Mendis said: “We still cannot decide on the Under 20 event since to the Advanced Level examination dates are yet to be confirmed. If it is held as scheduled on 7 September, then we can re-commence the matches from 15 October. But as of now, it looks like there is going to be a further two-week delay of Advanced Level Examinations. This will only allow us to re-start the League in November.”

Speaking further Mendis said, “All the junior rugby in the league will be cancelled due to the time factor and risk involved for small children. All age groups from Under 10 to Under 20 will have an island-wide seven-a-side event.”

“We are also in touch with Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and our country will be hosting the Junior Asia Rugby Top 4, which will be the qualification event for the Junior World Rugby Tournament (JWRT) Under 20, which would take place in mid-2021. The winner at the Colombo event will qualify from Asian Zone.”

Susantha ended his statement stating, “Our new sponsor Dialog, is very keen to re-start the tournament as soon as possible with the approval from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sports.”