Milo President's Trophy Knockout Tournament
| Milo President's Trophy | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Rugby union |
| Formerly known as |
Premadasa Trophy Prime Minister's Trophy |
| Inaugural season | 1985 |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Country | Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association) |
| Holders | Science College (2015) |
| Most titles | Isipathana College (6 titles) |
| Related competition | Singer School Rugby League |
The Milo President's Trophy is an annual school knockout u/20 rugby tournament in Sri Lanka.[1] The tournament was first staged in 1985 when it was known as the Premadasa Trophy, named after Ranasinghe Premadasa (the then Prime Minister). The tournament involves the top seven school teams in the Division 1A Group and the winner of the Division 1B Group. In 2007 the tournament was expanded to include the Premier Trophy and in 2008 the Chairman's Trophy, to provide more school teams with the opportunity to compete at the same level.[2]
In 2009 the it was renamed as the Milo Trophy after two years it returned to its original name as the Milo President's Trophy.[3]
In 2010 the scheduled final was suspended at the last minute by the authorities due to a court order issued by Isipathana College.[4] The two teams, St. Peter's College and Royal College, however still played abeit as a friendly encounter, with St Peter's College winning 29–27.[5] After two years, the court case was dismissed and the two schools were jointly awarded the Trophy.
In 2015 it was contested by only six sides, Royal College (2015 league champions), Isipathana College (league runner-up), Trinity College (third seed), Science College (fourth seed), St. Peter's College (fifth seed) and D. S. Senanayake College, after injuries decimated the league's sixth placed finisher St. Joseph's College, league plate champions Wesley College and plate runner-up St. Anthony's.[6] The President's Trophy was won by Science College for the first time, who defeated Isipathana College 21–18 in the final.[7] Lalith Athulathmudali College won the Premier Trophy defeating Mahanama College 17–14[8] and in the chairman's Trophy, St. Thomas' College, Matale, defeated Carey College, Colombo 7–0 in the final.[9]
Past winners
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Isipathana College | Ananda College |
| 1986 | Isipathana College | Royal College |
| 1987 | Trinity College | Isipathana College |
| 1988 | Royal College | Isipathana College |
| 1989 | S. Thomas' College | Isipathana College |
| 1990 | S. Thomas' College | Isipathana College |
| 1991 | S. Thomas' College | Ananda College |
| 1992 | Isipathana College | Ananda College |
| 1993 | Trinity College | Isipathana College |
| 1994 | S. Thomas' College | St. Peter's College |
| 1995 | St. Peter's College | Isipathana College |
| 1996 | Isipathana College | St. Peter's College |
| 1997 | Isipathana College | Thurstan College |
| 1998 | Thurstan College | Isipathana College |
| 1999 | Isipathana College | Ananda College |
| 2000 | Kingswood College | S. Thomas College |
| 2001 | Isipathana College | St. Peter's College |
| 2002 | Royal College | Wesley College |
| 2003 | Kingswood College | S. Thomas' College |
| 2004 | Kingswood College | Wesley College |
| 2005 | Kingswood College | St. Peter's College |
| 2006 | St. Peter's College | Kingswood College |
| 2007 | St. Peter's College | Isipathana College |
| 2008 | St. Peter's College | Isipathana College |
| 2009 | S. Thomas' College | Isipathana College |
| 2010 | Royal College / St. Peter's College | |
| 2011 | Trinity College | Isipathana College |
| 2012 | Isipathana College | Trinity College |
| 2013 | Wesley College | Trinity College |
| 2014 | Isipathana College | Royal College |
| 2015 | Science College | Isipathana College |
Total wins
Isipathana College are the most successful schools rugby team having won the knockout tournament a total of nine times, including three wins whilst it was still the Prime Minister's Trophy (1985–95) and have been the runner up eleven times. St. Peter's College and S Thomas' College are the next most successful schools having won the trophy five times (1995, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 – where it was joint champions with Royal College) while S. Thomas College (1989, 1990, 1991, 1994 and 2009). Kingswood College has won it four times in (2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005), with Royal College winning it three times (1988, 2002 and 2010 joint champions with St. Peter's College) along with Trinity College (1987, 1993 and 2011). Three teams have won it just the once Thurstan College (1998), Wesley College (2013) and Science College (2015). Ananda College have been runners-up four times (1985, 1991, 1992 and 1999) but have yet to win the trophy.
| School | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Isipathana College | 9 | 1985, 1986, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2012, 2014 |
| St Peter's College | 5 | 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010‡ |
| S. Thomas' College | 5 | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2009 |
| Kingswood College | 4 | 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| Trinity College | 3 | 1987, 1993, 2011 |
| Royal College | 3 | 1988, 2002, 2010‡ |
| Thurstan College | 1 | 1998 |
| Wesley College | 1 | 2013 |
| Science College | 1 | 2015 |
- ‡ Shared
References
- ↑ Amit, M. Shamil (5 July 2015). "Milo Schools President's Trophy Knockout". Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ↑ "Top Six Schools Teams Gear For Rugby Knockout". The Sunday Leader. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ↑ Pinnawala, Chathura (20 August 2011). "Presidents Trophy back for rugby knockouts". The Island. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ↑ "Royal and St.Peter's declared joint champions". Daily News. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ↑ "President's Trophy final not played on Court order". Daily News. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ↑ "Milo President's Trophy Knockout Tournament Six teams in the fray". Ceylon Today. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ↑ Amit, M. Shamil (13 July 2015). "Science Dethrone Isipathana for Historic Title Win". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ↑ "Lalith Athulathmudali come from behind to take Premier Trophy". The Papare. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ↑ "STC Matale turns tables with historic Chairman's Trophy Win". The Papare. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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