Schools Rugby League 2026 kicks off on 23 April

By Shamseer Jaleel

The much-anticipated Inter-School Dialog Rugby League 2026 is set to roar back into action in just two weeks, promising a fiercely competitive season as defending champions Trinity College aim to retain their crown which they won last year under the leadership of Usmaan Safraz. 

With the tournament expanding in intensity and structure, this year’s edition is expected to deliver high-quality rugby and gripping contests across all three groups with each group consisting of 6 teams each. This year’s season will kick off on 23 April with a game between Wesley and Prince of Wales at Havelock Park.

Trinity College, riding high after a historic campaign last season, will enter the competition brimming with confidence. Under the leadership of Shan Althaf, the Kandy school not only clinched the league title but also ended a remarkable 38-year wait for rugby supremacy, etching their name into school rugby folklore. They accounted for the President Trophy knock out win as well last weekend beating Royal College.

The tournament format will see 18 top schools divided into three groups of six, with Group A featuring Trinity College, Isipathana College, D.S. Senanayake College, Sri Sumangala College, St. Anthony’s College, and Lumbini College. Every match in this group is expected to be a battle, with no room for complacency. With the current form both the defending champions Trinity and Isipathana tipped to move forward for Super Round.

Group B boasts formidable contenders in Wesley College, St. Peter’s College, St. Joseph’s College, Ananda College, Mahanama College, and Prince of Wales College. Traditionally strong rugby-playing schools, this group could produce some of the most closely fought encounters of the league stage. St Peters and Wesley are strong contenders for Super Round from this Group.

Meanwhile, Group C includes Royal College, S. Thomas’ College, Kingswood College, Zahira College, Thurstan College, and Science College. With Royal and Thomians renewing their storied rivalry, fans can expect electrifying clashes and high stakes rugby throughout the group phase. Royal looks certain for the Super Round while the second place race could be between S Thomas and Zahira.

The competition format raises the stakes significantly, as only the top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Six stage. This leaves little margin for error, making every fixture crucial in determining which teams progress to the next round.

However, the road to the Super Six will be anything but easy. With emerging talent across all schools and the pressure of qualification looming large, even the traditional powerhouses will need to be at their very best from the opening whistle. Winning a knock out will not give a major advantage bit need to work hard as all the other teams will be improving with the time ticks on.

As the countdown begins, anticipation continues to build among players, supporters, and the wider rugby community. With pride, tradition, and glory at stake, the Inter-School Rugby League is set to deliver a thrilling chapter in Sri Lanka’s schools rugby calendar plus this Schools League is the most looked forward and high spectator turn out event compared to club rugby. So all eyes will be on the young lads from later this month till early July. This year’s schools rugby season will come to an end with the Blue Ribbon Bradby Shield encounter during the month of July in Colombo and Kandy.

Dialog Schools U19 Rugby League 2026

Round 01 / Week 01 of 5

23 April: Group – 2: Wesley College vs Prince of Wales College at Havelock Park

24 April: Group – 1: DS Senanayake College vs Sri Sumangala College at Havelock Park

Group – 2: St Peters College vs Mahanama College at St Peters ground in Bambalapitiya

Ananda College vs St Joseph’s College at Ananda Ground in Rajagiriya

Group – 3: Thurstan College vs S Thomas College at AF Grounds in Ratmalana

25 April: Group – 1: Trinity College vs Lumbini College at Pallekele

Isipathana College vs St Anthony’s College at Havelock Park

Group – 3: Kingswood College vs Zahira College at Bogambara

26 April: Group – 3: Royal College vs Science College at Royal Complex