Trinity College Rugby skipper of both 1957 and 1958, Rugby Lionsman Kandy, Up Country, Low Country Havies, Uva and All Ceylon rugby player Ken de Joodt is no more. He was 76 years at the time of his death. Ken will also be fondly remembered for being the sixth consecutive Trinity rugby skipper to win the blue riband of schools rugby – the much coveted Bradby Shield in 1957, the  [ Read More ]

When the same team wins a prestigious shield four years in a row, one simply cannot just attribute it to luck or any other superstitious factor. The consecutive wins prove determination, focus and drive from the team, officials and the coach. Suffice it to say, all of these factors have to be in sync in order to reach the ultimate goal. In this high octane game, one man stands out  [ Read More ]

Stunning, excellent entertainment and action-packed suspense, down to the last minute – is the description that could be given to the 162nd match and 70th year of the world famous “Bradby Shield” Rugby encounter, between Trinity College Kandy and Royal College Colombo. Royal and Trinity fans were ‘over the hills’ with delight, to be treated to exciting ‘power rugby’ and a super day of grand entertainment – although some may  [ Read More ]

Preview of Trinity-Royal 70th Bradby Shield Rugby 2nd Leg in Kandy It will be a stunning sight to see the crowds gather at the Trinity Pallekelle Grounds, as the first contingent of the “TRINITY RED ARMY” (over 3000 fans/supporters all dressed in Red Tee Shirts), followed by the “ROYAL TUSKERS” (over 2000 in Blue and Gold Tee Shirts) – parade into the grounds before the commencement of the 2nd Leg  [ Read More ]

It is the traditional Bradby dinner at the school main hall. The clock stares 8.30pm.The Royal 1st XV captain Shehan Pathirana is delivering his address. Trinity has lost the 1st leg 25 to 33 few hours earlier at Bogambara. The chaps from Colombo are on cloud nine. They’ve beaten Trinity yet again for the sixth time in a row. Nothing can shake their confidence that they would retain the Bradby Shield for the 3rd consecutive year.

Review of Trinity-Royal 70th Bradby Shield Rugby Encounter With splendid weather last Saturday 10th May, the 1st Leg of the 70th “Bradby Shield” rugby game ‘kicked off’ impressively at 4.30 p.m. – on the beautifully spruced-up Royal Sports Complex Rugby grounds. It was an electrifying atmosphere which had an estimated 20,000 Rugby fans going crazy, beating drums, blowing ‘wuwuzela’ horns, backed by the Sri Lankan Papare bands belting out some pulsating  [ Read More ]

Today, all Rugby fans could expect to witness a tremendously exciting game of Rugby, when Royal College Colombo, come up against Trinity College Kandy, in the “2nd Leg” of the “Bradby Shield”. This ‘decider’ is to be played at the Royal Rugby Stadium in Colombo at 4.30 p.m. – and should give Royal the advantage, playing on their home grounds. Yet, the outcome of a Trinity-Royal Bradby game is most  [ Read More ]

In the scintillating spirit of Sri Lanka’s exciting ‘glamour game’ Rugby, this particular encounter of Trinity and Royal, will as always, see Rugby reach it’s peak, this time up in the hills of Pallekelle! The splendid scenic Trinity College Rugby Stadium grounds will be flagged and beautifully decorated, to also provide a ‘carnival’ atmosphere on this occasion, on Saturday, 1st June 2013 at 4.30 p.m. Keeping to the Trinity Tradition,  [ Read More ]

Amidst all the attention which the apocalypse of the world has been getting, this piece of writing, rest assured reader, is on a rather lighter, happier and infinitely more ecstatic note. For those of us who have had the pleasure of passing through the very few college gates here in our country where history and traditions are sources of inspiration, this note bears a deeper message. The roots of rugby  [ Read More ]

Everyone talks about the ’56 side under David Frank or Tyrrell Rajapakse’s side of ’87 being teams of fantastic rugby players with the unbeaten tag. Due recognition must be given to the consistently brilliant side of 1974 which also remained unbeaten and played some superlative rugby under the tutelage of the late Major Bertie Dias. Side stepping , dummies, excellent ball handling and sudden changes of direction gave them an  [ Read More ]