The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA), has unveiled its new format ahead of the 2025 inter-school rugby league tournament, but it is yet to be officially released to the media, its Secretary Manuja Nimmana said.

He said it was currently up for discussion among school authorities and noted that once it is finalised it will be officially released to the media outlets.

However, The Daily Morning Sports, learns through informed sources, that the new format is to feature a lineup of 18 teams split into three groups of six, in the Division-1 Segment A.

In the first-round, teams in each group are set to clash with each team vying for supremacy with the Division based on their 2024 performance rankings.

According to the SLSRFA Secretary, only the top two sides from each group are bound to make it to the Cup competition, with the rest battling it out in the Bowl and Plate competitions.

The Cup, Plate and Bowl champions, will thus lay claim to the final positions from 1 to 18, but those placed in the 17th and 18th spots, will face the dark prospect of demotion in the 2026 season.

The Division 1 Segment B will feature a similar structure, consisting of 15 teams organised into three groups of five.

In the meantime, the Division 1 Segment C, is set to comprise of 12 teams divided into four groups of three.

St. Peter’s College, will start the 2025 inter-school league tournament, as defending champions and will be determined to go for a hat-trick of title wins, following their triumphs in the past two seasons.  

Groups for Division-1 Segment A: 

Group A: St. Peter’s, D.S. Senanayake, Wesley, Science, St. Anthony’s, Ananda     

Group B: Isipathana, S. Thomas’, Zahira, Dharmaraja, Kingswood, Mahanama

Group C: Royal, Trinity, Vidyartha, St. Joseph’s, Sri Sumangala, Thurstan 

(JK)