Monday Mar 23, 2026
Monday Mar 23, 2026
Friday, 27 February 2026 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shamseer Jaleel
The historic Clifford Cup Knockout Rugby Tournament 2025/2026 will commence today (27) in Colombo with two quarter-final matches kicking off simultaneously at 4 p.m, as the top eight clubs battle for places in the semi-finals of the century-old competition.
League champions CR & FC will host Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club at Longdon Place today. The Red Shirts enter the knockout stage after a highly successful League season led by Lasindu Karunathilake and coached by Dushanth Lewke. They showed class, including three victories over defending champions Kandy Sports Club, underlining their strong form. They only lost out to Havies and CH, but regrouped and played a better brand of rugby.
Key contributions from Thenuka Nanayakkara, Mursheed Doray, and Manilka Ruberu played an important role in the Reds’ League triumph.
Meanwhile, Navy SC will look to build on their pre-quarter-final win over Sri Lions with players such as Isuru Perera, Isuru Congahawatte, and Koojana Kulasinghe expected to lead the challenge.
The second quarter-final will see CH & FC meeting Plate champions Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club at the Royal Sports Complex today.
Surprisingly, CH is opting for the Royal Sports Complex after having home advantage according to tournament rules. CH & FC, led by Janidu Dilshan, showed promise during the League season despite some inconsistency.
Mohamed Absal, Janith Chandima,l and the powerful overseas players are expected to play key roles for CH & FC, while Air Force, captained by Shanaka Werella, will rely on Gayantha Iddamalgoda, Shamika Kaushan, Ishara Madushan, and overseas recruit Afasua Yaovasa.
Referee Raveen Alexander will officiate the first quarter-final, while Lorence Kiunga of Kenya will handle the second match at the Royal Sports Complex. The two winners will advance to the first semi-final, which will be played at the home ground of the highest-ranked team.
