The thrilling Zahira 7s Invitational Tournament, organized by Zahira’s Group of ’60s, took place on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the Royal Sports Complex. Though many top-flight schools did not participate due to the tournament being held so close to the end of the schools’ XV season, the event brought together some of the island’s finest rugby schools.
The tournament utilized a high-stakes, fast-paced format to test the endurance of the 12 elite school teams. Having been split evenly into four groups of three, the teams battled through an intense round-robin session in the morning, with group rankings decided by points. The critical separation occurred heading into the afternoon knockout phase, with teams being routed directly into their respective tiers based on their group positions. The top-ranked teams advanced to the elite Cup championship bracket, while the second- and third-placed finishers from each group were placed into the Plate and Bowl segments, ensuring balanced and competitive sevens rugby.
The Bowl Championship final saw an absolute offensive showcase from Thurstan College, who bounced back from their early-morning setbacks to completely dominate the tier. They unleashed a ruthless attacking display, dismantling the opposition defence to comfortably overwhelm Ananda College 35–7 at the final whistle.
The Plate Championship final delivered plenty of end-to-end action as Vidyartha College unleashed their signature open-play style and blistering counterattacks to secure the silverware. They continuously breached the defensive line to defeat a fighting Dharmaraja College outfit 24–14 in an entertaining Kandy derby that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
In the high-stakes Cup semi-finals, Isipathana College displayed a tactical masterclass by outlasting D.S. Senanayake College 15–10 in a gruelling extra-time battle where defence reigned supreme. In the second semi-final, tournament hosts Zahira College capitalized on vocal home support and clinical execution to punch their ticket to the grand finale, defeating a resilient Science College team 19–10.
The grand finale belonged entirely to the composed Green Machine, as Isipathana College dominated the Cup final from the opening whistle to lift the ultimate championship trophy. They executed a masterclass in possession and raw pace, running in four superb tries to thoroughly shut down the hosts, Zahira College, 26–7 in front of a packed and passionate crowd.
As the final whistle blew at the complex, it marked not only the end of a sensational day of sevens rugby but also the emotional conclusion of the Under-19 school rugby calendar for this year’s batch of senior players. For many of these young athletes, the Zahira Rugby 7s 2026 tournament served as their final opportunity to don their beloved school jerseys, closing out a chapter defined by brotherhood, grit, and sacrifice.
With the 2026 season officially in the books, the focus now shifts entirely to the future. Every school will head back to the drawing board, buckle up for a gruelling off-season of training, and look to rebuild their squads as they aim to return stronger and more determined for the 2027 season.
