Royal College altered its sporting history forever in 1916 when it took to playing Rugby. By this time, Trinity College Kandy had already started the game in 1906. On July 31st, 1920, the first Royal vs. Trinity rugby match was played, marking the beginning of a historic rivalry. Despite early challenges, Royal secured their first win in 1941 and has since seen many victories.

The Royal vs. Trinity series, known as the Bradby Shield, began in 1945, thanks to Principal E.L. Bradby. This two-match series, awarded to the team with the higher aggregate score, is now the most prestigious school rugby match in Sri Lanka. The rivalry is fierce yet gracious, embodying the spirit of sportsmanship.

The Centenary match between the two schools was the second leg encounter played in 1983 in which the chief guest was Mr.E.L.Bradby himself. The 2008 second leg match was the 150th match between the two schools. The 2002 Bradby encounter was the highest scoring encounter for Royal, led by Zulki Hamid, winning with a record (39-00) in the first leg held in Colombo and winning the second leg (44-00) in Kandy, thus winning the Bradby Shield with a record aggregate of 83 – 00. 

In addition to the Bradby Shield, Royal College competes annually against St. Thomas’ College for the Michael Gunaratne Trophy and against Isipathana College for the Major Milroy Fernando Trophy. These matches are a testament to Royal’s rugby tradition and provide an opportunity to showcase talent against some of Sri Lanka’s best rugby schools. 

Royal College is proud to have won the Schools’ Rugby League the highest number of times, cementing its legacy as a powerhouse in school rugby. Join us in celebrating this rich heritage and the incredible spirit of Royal College Rugby!