Peterites Fall From Grace and Scandal Takes a Backseat for at least a Day
By Callistus Davy
For at least one day, Isipathana College and Trinity College restored a measure of dignity to a schools rugby scene recently marred by scandal. Their spirited contest served as a brief but much-needed reprieve from the damage inflicted by the latest controversy involving St. Peter’s College, whose players now stand accused in a court of law over allegations of sexually victimizing a junior teammate.
The incident, which has dragged the sport into unprecedented disgrace, has cast a long shadow over what was once celebrated as a bastion of schoolboy camaraderie and sportsmanship. For many, the golden era of schools rugby where respect, honour, and team spirit defined the game feels heartbreakingly distant.
Yet amid that gloom, Isipathana, one of the most reformed and disciplined outfits in recent years, teamed up with a resurgent Trinity to give loyal followers something to cheer about. Their performance rekindled memories of rugby’s true spirit, even if only for a fleeting moment.
The match itself offered little in terms of sustained brilliance for the packed stands at the final, but the final ten minutes were enough to remind everyone of what the game can be. Trinity’s young prodigy, Althaf, lit up the occasion with a sublime drop-goal that gave his team a narrow 9–7 lead, triggering roars of approval from an otherwise subdued crowd.
But while Trinity fans may have hoped that Althaf’s moment of magic would seal victory, Isipathana had other plans. In the dying moments, centre Uvindu Kodiithuwakku pierced through the defence, collected a well-timed pass, and crashed over the try line, dragging two defenders with him, as Isipathana snatched the lead and ultimately, the win.
It was a script that, for once, allowed rugby to triumph in spite of what had happened off the field. In a time when the sport stands tainted, the resilience shown by these two schools offered a glimpse of hope however short-lived.
Yet, as pundits and former players rightly point out, no number of thrilling tries or dramatic drop-goals can erase the serious accusations hanging over St. Peter’s College. Until justice is served and meaningful action taken, the game will remain under scrutiny. The deeper tragedy lies not just in the act itself, but in the failure of the system: a system now saturated with commercial patrons and caretakers, but void of accountability.
In the wake of St. Peter’s decision to withdraw from the tournament, further questions have emerged about school-level rugby governance, especially the absence of disciplinary frameworks and competent authorities to deal with misconduct. While other nations have institutional safeguards, Sri Lankan schools rugby remains shockingly vulnerable to abuse, both of power and people.
The imbalance and distortion of values were most evident during Sunday’s final when 20 officials paraded onto the field alongside the 30 players during the opening ceremony, an image that starkly captured what schools rugby has become: a stage for adults seeking prominence, while the players are left to carry the consequences of mismanagement.
For now, Isipathana and Trinity have salvaged what they could. But real redemption for schools rugby will only come when its leadership finds the courage to act and to protect the very players the sport claims to nurture.
