The future of Sri Lankan schoolboy rugby was on full display as 31 of the island’s leading rugby schools converged on Colombo for the SLSRFA Under-16 Elite Ten-a-Side Rugby Tournament 2026. With traditional powerhouses such as Royal College, Trinity College, Wesley College, St. Peter’s College, S. Thomas’ College and Isipathana College among the strong field, the competition carried plenty of anticipation even before the first whistle was blown.
Over two days, the tournament produced a mixture of close finishes, dominant performances and dramatic late moments, with schools battling not only for the prestigious Cup but also for honors in the Plate, Bowl and Shield segments. The ten-a-side format provided the young players with more space to showcase their attacking ability, while the shortened format being 7 minutes a half-demanded intensity, discipline and quick decision-making throughout each game.
The opening day saw all 31 teams divided into eight groups, with the action taking place at the St. Peter’s College and Ananda College grounds. Every team played each opponent in its respective group once, with their performances determining which segment they would compete in on the second day.
The group stages produced a strong collection of winners, with Wesley College emerging from Group A, D.S. Senanayake College from Group B, St. Anthony’s College from Group C, Trinity College from Group D, St. Peter’s College from Group E, Royal College from Group F, S. Thomas’ College from Group G and Science College from Group H.
With the group stage completed, the teams were separated into the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield competitions according to their rankings. The second day consequently provided every participating school with something to play for, while the leading sides turned their attention towards securing a place in the Cup knockout stages.
The Shield final produced one of the most one-sided results of the tournament, with Vidyartha College putting together a powerful performance against a spirited Siri Piyarathana College side. Vidyartha controlled the contest from the outset and eventually dismantled their opponents 34–0 to secure the Shield championship.
The Bowl final was a far tighter affair, with Dharmaraja College and Isipathana College producing an entertaining contest that remained within touching distance until the final whistle. Dharmaraja eventually held their nerve to claim a narrow 14–12 victory and lift the Bowl trophy.
The Plate final carried additional significance, with Trinity College and Royal College meeting in a repeat of the C.E. Simithraaratchy Trophy encounter. Once again, it was Trinity who had the final say. The Lions produced a composed performance to defeat Royal College 12–5 and secure the Plate, adding another victory over their traditional rivals.
However, it was the Cup competition that provided the biggest drama of the tournament. The first Cup semi-final saw defending champions Wesley College come up against a determined St. Anthony’s College side. The two teams produced a closely fought contest, with neither willing to surrender their opportunity to reach the final. St. Anthony’s continued to challenge Wesley deep into the game, but the defending champions found a way through when it mattered most.
With the match heading towards its conclusion, Wesley produced a decisive rolling-maul try in the dying seconds of the second half to seal a 19–14 victory. The late score sent Wesley into the Cup final, keeping their hopes of retaining the title alive.
The second semi-final, meanwhile, produced a completely different type of contest. Science College delivered a statement performance against St. Peter’s College, defeating the hosts 22–0 on their own home grounds. Science’s defensive discipline prevented the Peterites from getting on the scoreboard, while their attacking play repeatedly troubled the St. Peter’s defence.
The result set up one of the most anticipated encounters of the tournament. Wesley College were looking to defend the title they had secured in the previous edition after defeating Science College, while Science entered the final with an opportunity to avenge that defeat and finish the tournament as champions.
Rather than allowing the occasion to overwhelm them, Science came out with purpose and intensity, putting Wesley under pressure from the early stages. Their running rugby and ability to exploit space proved decisive as they steadily took control of the contest.
Wesley, who had shown their resilience throughout the knockout stages, struggled to reproduce the same dominance that had carried them into the final. Science continued to build momentum and eventually broke clear, producing a comprehensive 29–7 victory.
The final whistle confirmed Science College as the 2026 SLSRFA Under-16 Elite Ten-a-Side champions. For Science, the victory was more than simply another trophy. It represented redemption after last year’s defeat to Wesley and demonstrated the quality of a side that had remained unbeaten through its path to the Cup.
The tournament also proved that the strength of Sri Lankan schoolboy rugby extends well beyond Colombo. Three Kandy schools made the journey south and returned with three of the four segment trophies. Trinity College secured the Plate, Dharmaraja College claimed the Bowl and Vidyartha College lifted the Shield, underlining the impressive depth of rugby talent coming out of Kandy.
The only trophy that escaped the Kandy schools was the most coveted prize of all. Science College retained the Cup in Colombo and brought the two-day tournament to a fitting conclusion, ending Wesley College’s reign in emphatic fashion.
With 31 schools, four competitive segments and a number of established rugby programmes involved, the 2026 SLSRFA Under-16 Elite Ten-a-Side Tournament offered a strong glimpse of the next generation of Sri Lankan schoolboy rugby. From the tight contests to the dominant displays, the tournament provided plenty of evidence that the future of the game remains in capable hands.
