In the second week of the ongoing “Mastercard Plate Championship” Inter-Club Rugby Football Tournament, organized by the Sri Lanka Rugby, C.H. & F.C. Club and Army Sports Club clinched impressive victories, strengthening their standings in the tournament.

C.H. & F.C. Dominate Sri Lions Club 47-20

C.H. & F.C. showcased their prowess by defeating Sri Lions Club with a decisive 47-20 victory in the 41st match at the Ratmalana Air Force Camp Ground. Despite trailing 14-17 at halftime, C.H. & F.C. surged ahead, scoring six goals and one try, while Sri Lions managed two goals, one try, and one penalty.

This win propelled C.H. & F.C. to the top of the “Palanga” championship standings among five competing clubs. The London-based club has played 10 matches since the preliminary round, securing five wins and accumulating 33 points, including eight bonus points.

Army Overpowers Navy 49-22

In the 42nd match at the Ratmalana Air Force Base, Army Sports Club secured a commanding 49-22 win over Navy Club. The Army team demonstrated their strength by scoring three goals, five tries, and one penalty. The Navy team responded with two goals, one try, and one penalty. The score was tied 10-10 at halftime, but Army’s aggressive play in the second half sealed the victory.

Current Standings in the Palanga Championship

1. C.H. & F.C.: 33 points (8 bonus points, 5 wins from 10 matches)
2. Army Sports Club: 24 points (4 wins from 9 matches)
3. Police Sports Club: 21 points
4. Sri Lions Club: 13 points
5. Navy Club: 5 points

With these recent victories, both C.H. & F.C. and Army Sports Club are poised to maintain their momentum as the “Mastercard Plate Championship” progresses. Fans can look forward to more thrilling action as the tournament continues to unfold.

The Super Eight Round of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024 (Under 20 Division 1 Boys Football Tournament) has ended on a high note, producing four standout teams that will battle for a place in the final. Below is a comprehensive look at the match results, final points tables, and key highlights from the tournament so far.

Match Results Overview

1. St. Joseph’s College 4-0 Darussalam College
2. Kalutara Muslim Central 2-3 Alighar National School
3. Hameed Al Husseine College 1-0 Al Falah College
4. Zahira College 4-0 St. Patrick’s College
5. St. Joseph’s College 1-1 Alighar National School
6. Darussalam College 7-0 Kalutara Muslim Central
7. Al Falah College 0-3 Zahira College
8. St. Patrick’s College 0-4 Hameed Al Husseine College
9. Alighar National School 5-1 Darussalam College
10. St. Joseph’s College 1-0 Kalutara Muslim Central
11. Zahira College 2-0 Hameed Al Husseine College
12. Al Falah College 3-2 St. Patrick’s College

Group A Standings

Top Two (Advancing to Semifinals):

• Alighar National School
• St. Joseph’s College

Group B Standings

Top Two (Advancing to Semifinals):

• Zahira College
• Hameed Al Husseine College

Summary & Semi-Final Preview

• Alighar National School and St. Joseph’s College finished level on points at the top of Group A. Their draw against each other kept the race tight, but both teams delivered strong performances in the remaining matches to secure 7 points each.
• Zahira College dominated Group B with three consecutive wins, scoring 9 goals and conceding none. Hameed Al Husseine College followed suit, showcasing solid defense and earning 6 points to claim the second semi-final berth.
• Darussalam College, Kalutara Muslim Central, Al Falah College, and St. Patrick’s College showed fighting spirit but fell short in the quest for the knockout stage.

Semi Finals

• Alighar National School will face Hameed Al Husseine College in the Semi Finals
• Zahira College will face St. Joseph’s College in the Semi Finals

The semi-finals promise high-octane clashes as the top contenders face off. Stay tuned to Sri Lankan Sports TV for exclusive match previews, live coverage, and post-match analysis as we approach the grand finale of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025.

World Rugby has extended Sri Lanka Rugby’s (SLR) deadline until June 15, 2025, to address its governance issues, warning that failure to comply will result in immediate sanctions, including a possible ban from international competitions.

Acknowledging the persistent efforts of Sri Lanka’s Competent Authority and Director General of Sports, Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando, World Rugby remains firm on its conditions. SLR must implement a revised constitution and conduct elections within the next four months to meet international standards.

To oversee these reforms, a Working Taskforce has been formed, featuring representatives from World Rugby, Asia Rugby, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lankan government. Led by Asia Rugby, this task force is responsible for guiding SLR through the required changes.

The reform process consists of two key phases. The initial phase focuses on reviewing voting eligibility, finalizing constitutional amendments, and organizing a Special General Meeting (SGM). The next phase involves adopting the new constitution at the SGM, followed by elections monitored by World Rugby, Asia Rugby, and local sports authorities.

SLR has faced repeated scrutiny over governance failures, prompting multiple interventions from international rugby bodies. With this deadline set, Sri Lanka Rugby has one final opportunity to align with global governance standards and secure its future in international rugby.