Watching rugby in Sri Lanka is there a rugby scene and can a visitor go to a match and what is the atmosphere
I am a rugby fan and surprised to learn Sri Lanka has a rugby following Is there a real rugby scene here can a visitor go and watch a match what level is it (club schools internationals) where is it played (I read Kandy is a rugby town) what is the famous schools rugby and the Bradby and what is the atmosphere like and is there a season Rugby fans and locals please tell me about going to a game in Sri Lanka
7 Answers from travellers
Kandy rugby fan so let me tell you about our rugby Is there a scene YES genuinely cricket is king but RUGBY has a passionate dedicated following here especially in KANDY (you read right Kandy is the rugby heartland) and among certain schools and clubs it is a real and surprisingly fervent sporting culture The levels CLUB rugby (the league with the big Kandy and Colombo clubs Kandy Sports Club is the legendary powerhouse) SCHOOLS rugby which is HUGE the inter school matches are massive emotional well attended events with old boy rivalries going back generations and the NATIONAL team plays internationally (in the Asian competitions) the schools and club games are where the live atmosphere is The famous schools rugby and the Bradby the BRADBY SHIELD is the legendary annual two leg schools rugby encounter between Trinity College (Kandy) and Royal College (Colombo) it is the blue riband of Sri Lankan schools rugby an institution with a century of history played over two legs (one in Kandy one in Colombo) the passion pageantry old boys bands and colour are extraordinary if your visit coincides with the Bradby or a big schools match GO it is a spectacular cultural sporting occasion the other big school games (the various royal college and trinity and st peters and so on rivalries) are similar Can a visitor watch ABSOLUTELY club and schools matches are open to spectators (tickets are cheap and easy for league and school games the marquee Bradby is bigger but doable) just turn up the crowd is welcoming and will happily explain and share the fervour Atmosphere passionate colourful loud the schools games especially have bands cheering old boys and a carnival rivalry atmosphere Kandy rugby crowds are devoted it is a joyous sporting day out Season the rugby SEASON runs in a particular part of the year (broadly the league and the big schools encounters including the Bradby fall in a season that has historically run around the earlier middle part of the year through to mid year) so CHECK the current fixtures for your dates there may well be club or schools games on so yes go to the rugby Kandy is the heartland the schools rugby and the legendary Bradby Shield Trinity versus Royal are the spectacle club games (Kandy SC) are great too visitors are welcome tickets are cheap and the atmosphere is passionate just check the fixture list for your dates
The schools rugby being huge surprised me the Bradby and the big inter school games have a passion and tradition like nothing in club sport back home the old boy rivalries and the bands make it a cultural event not just a match
If you can get to a game at Nittawela the Kandy rugby ground the atmosphere is electric the Kandy crowd lives for their rugby and a big match there is as passionate as any sporting crowd you will see ask about fixtures at the ground
Kandy is the heartland the schools rugby and the legendary Bradby Shield are the spectacle club games are great too visitors welcome tickets cheap and the atmosphere passionate this is exactly the rugby scene I was surprised and delighted to find thank you
Kandy genuinely lives for its rugby in a way that surprises visitors expecting only cricket pairing a match with a Kandy cultural visit (the temple the lake the dance) gives you the sporting heart of the town alongside its spiritual one a great combination
The check the fixture list for your dates tip is key the season is part of the year so it is worth looking up whether club or schools games are on while you are here if the timing works it is a brilliant cheap local experience
Went to a club game on a whim and the crowd adopted me explaining everything and sharing their snacks the warmth at a Sri Lankan rugby match is as memorable as the rugby just turn up and you will be welcomed into the fervour
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