Sylvester -Vidyartha Rugby encounter to be played for a trophy

The Vidyartha and St. Sylvester’s rugby encounter this year will be played for a trophy. The match was scheduled to be played on August 5 at the Nittawela ground but has been postponed by a week to August 12 due to the non availability of the grounds.
It is understood that the trophies are to be named in memory of two past principals, the late Bertie Nilagoda of St Sylvester’s who re-introduced rugby to the school in the mid 1980’s and Vidyartha’s late PML Banda.
Rugby football made a modest start in 1954 at St. Sylvester’s. That year they played only one game, against the University of Peradeniya and lost by 6 point to 16.
Malcolm Marshall who later played for the Navy and Defence Services was the first captain of St Sylvester’s. Bobby Jayaweera was the first coach and the Rector was Rev. Fr. Robert Perera. After a few years the school gave up the game and it was re-introduced by the late Bertie Nilagoda in 1986.