The Inter-University Rugby Championship – 2025, was launched in grand style at the picturesque University of Peradeniya Grounds with the backdrop of the Hanthana mountain range a few weeks ago. All of the preliminary round matches took place in Peradeniya, and from the quarterfinals onwards, the tournament will move to Colombo.
The wide belief is that the cream of the Sri Lankan students who are thoroughly focused on their studies are qualifying for the government universities. But still, those masterminds never forget to engage in a high-octane game like rugby while they are focusing on their academics.
This year’s tournament will see 13 state universities in the fray for the glory and to clinch the coveted championship. In the preliminary round the teams were divided into four groups.
In Group A, the defending champions, the University of Colombo, emerged as the group tops by edging out Sabaragamuwa University 24 – 17. But the Colombo boys, led by former Ananda College 2nd raw forward Avishka Induranga, are positive about their title defence despite their narrow escape in their tournament opener. Meanwhile the spirited lads from Sabaragamuwa, who are led by former Maliyadeva College skipper Kaushalya Gunaweera, displayed a valiant effort to clinch the second spot of the group and went through to the quarterfinals. This time the lads from Uva Wellassa University failed to make an impact in the event.
The runners-up of the previous tournament, the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura, had brought their fine form again to clinch the top spot of Group B. The side led by former Royal fly-half Raveen Shenuka comfortably overcame challenges from the University of Ruhuna and Jaffna University with huge margins. Further, the University of Ruhuna sealed their spot in the quarterfinals after a hard-fought victory over the lads from the Northern area.
Group C was the most competitive group of the competition, and the arch-rivals University of Moratuwa and University of Peradeniya clashed for supremacy in the crucial game. After a thrilling encounter, the University of Moratuwa side, led by the former St. Joseph’s College centre, Nehan Perera, earned the honours of the game. But the spirited Peradeniya side led by Navod Dilshan of Rahula College, Matara, came back strong to beat Rajarata University to seal their spot in the quarterfinals.
Though there were four teams in Group D and higher amounts of games, all the encounters ended with one-way traffic. The title contender, the University of Kelaniya side led by the ex-Maliyadeva front-row player Gajitha Amarasinghe, managed to outclass the other three sides with heavy wins. They scored 106 unanswered points against South Eastern University, which was the only triple score of the tournament.
Though Wayamba University were defeated heavily by the Kelani ruggerites, the side led by former St. Anthony’s Wattala nippy scrum-half Dulshan Tharaka started the tournament with thumping victories over South Eastern and Vavuniya Universities, and that performance was enough to seal their spot in the next round.
The block-buster games of the tournament will commence from this weekend onwards, and can the defending champions go all the way and add another trophy to their cabinet? Only time will tell.
Quarterfinals Schedule
University of Kelaniya vs University of Ruhuna
University of Moratuwa vs Sabaragamuwa University
University of Colombo vs University of Peradeniya
University of Sri Ja’pura vs Wayamba University
Preliminary Round Results
Wayamba University 41 – 00 University of Vavuniya
University of Kelaniya 106 – 00 South Eastern University
University of Peradeniya 86 – 00 Rajarata University
University of Ruhuna 36 – 07 University of Jaffna
Sabaragamuwa University 29 – 00 Uva Wellassa University
Wayamba University 92 – 00 South Eastern University
University of Kelaniya 91 – 00 University of Vavuniya
University of Moratuwa (Walk over) Rajarata University
University of Sri Ja’pura 92 – 00 University of Jaffna
University of Colombo 34 – 08 Uva Wellassa University
University of Vavuniya 55 – 00 South Eastern University
University of Kelaniya 62 – 06 Wayamba University
University of Moratuwa 22 – 10 University of Peradeniya
University of Sri Ja’pura 48 – 00 University of Ruhuna
University of Colombo 24 – 17 Sabaragamuwa University
