Colombo, June 19 – Trinity College, Kandy delivered a commanding performance to defeat Thurstan College, Colombo by 48-19 in a high-energy Week 3 clash of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, played at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

Trinity dominated throughout the match, crossing the try line eight times and securing four conversions. Their relentless attack and solid defensive play left little room for Thurstan to recover.

Match Summary – Trinity 48 (8T, 4C) vs Thurstan 19 (3T, 2C)

• Trinity College Scorers:
  8 Tries
  4 Conversions
• Thurstan College Scorers:
  3 Tries
  2 Conversions

The game showcased Trinity’s physical strength, quick ball movement, and tactical excellence. Even as Thurstan fought back with three well-earned tries, the gap was too wide to close.

Colombo, June 19 – Royal College, Colombo extended their unbeaten run in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, defeating St. Joseph’s College, Maradana by 33-14 in a thrilling Week 3 encounter held at the Royal College Sports Complex.

Royal dominated both halves of the game, entering halftime with a 19-7 lead and continuing their momentum in the second half to seal a well-earned victory.

Match Summary – Royal 33 (5T, 4C) vs St. Joseph’s 14 (2T, 2C)

• Royal College Scorers:
  5 Tries
  4 Conversions
• St. Joseph’s Scorers:
  2 Tries
  2 Conversions

The Royalists maintained control throughout the game with solid offensive and defensive phases, capitalizing on their physical dominance and tactical superiority. The win cements their position as one of the favourites in this year’s league, showcasing a balanced squad with depth and experience.

Matchday Atmosphere

A packed crowd at the Royal Sports Complex witnessed high-intensity school rugby action with passionate support for both sides. The game lived up to its billing with fast-paced attacking plays and fierce defensive stands.

Fresh details reveal dual agreements, silent acceptance, and a looming registration problem ahead of the Champions League

Colombo – June 17, 2025:
The player registration controversy surrounding Mohamed Sahi has intensified, as newly uncovered information confirms the existence of two separate agreements signed by the player — one with New Star SC and another with Crystal Palace FC Gampola, both for the 2025/26 season.

The Timeline of Conflict

• On January 15, 2025, Mohamed Sahi received a release from his former club Eravur YSS, stating that he would be joining Crystal Palace FC.
• This release letter was shared via WhatsApp with Crystal Palace, but the original document was handed over to New Star SC, who then registered the player for the 2025/26 season based on a contract signed on January 16 for LKR 85,000.
• Later in February, Sahi went on to sign another contract — this time with Crystal Palace FC, reportedly for LKR 215,000, including two advance payments: LKR 35,000 and LKR 45,000 to his father’s account.

This sequence raises serious concerns about whether the player fully understood his obligations or whether both clubs failed to clarify the status of the original registration.

Crystal Palace Questions: Silence from New Star

Despite publicly announcing the signing of Mohamed Sahi on social media in February, New Star SC remained silent. No objections were raised until the issue surfaced during I League scrutiny.

This inaction has sparked public questions:

• Why didn’t New Star respond immediately if the player was already under contract with them?
• Was there an oversight, or did they expect the issue to resolve quietly?

I League vs Champions League Impact

While the situation has had no direct impact on the I League, given that New Star SC registered the player first and the I League is an invitational tournament not governed by the FFSL, Sahi only featured under New Star during the competition. However, the matter gains greater significance in the lead-up to the Sri Lanka Champions League, where both New Star SC and Crystal Palace FC are reported to have submitted player registrations for Mohamed Sahi, potentially triggering a registration conflict.

This raises the risk of:

• Duplicate entries under the same player ID
• Last-minute disqualifications or disputes
• Administrative confusion for tournament organizers

A Potential Settlement?

In an attempt to ease tensions, sources close to New Star SC have confirmed that Mohamed Sahi is willing to return the advance payment made by Crystal Palace FC to resolve the financial element of the issue amicably.

Final Word

While this incident is unlikely to influence the I League outcome, it exposes a flaw in inter-club communication and registration coordination. With the Champions League approaching, resolving these overlaps is essential to avoid technical complications or eligibility issues.