WikiMini

Bradby Shield Encounter

The Bradby Shield
Royal College
Trinity College
SportRugby union
First meeting1945; 80 years ago (1945)
  • Trinity 6, Royal 3
Latest meeting2024
  • Trinity 42, Royal 39
Next meeting79th encounter[1]
  • 23 August 2025 (first leg)
  • 6 September 2025 (second leg)
Stadiums
TrophyThe Bradby Shield
Statistics
Meetings total78
All-time seriesTrinity leads, 40–36–2
Largest victoryRoyal, 83–0 (2002)
Longest win streakTrinity, 6 (1952–1957)
Current win streakTrinity, 1 (2024)
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
40km
25miles
4
3
2
1
Location Map
1
Royal College
2
Royal College Sports Complex
3
Trinity College
4
Trinity College Rugby Stadium

The Bradby Shield Encounter, colloquially referred to as The Bradby, is an event within Sri Lanka's school rugby union season. This annual fixture takes place between two renowned boys’ schools in the country, namely Royal College, Colombo, and Trinity College, Kandy. The encounter involves two legs, with one currently held at the Royal College Sports Complex in Colombo and the other at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium in Pallekele. The winner of the competition is determined based on the aggregate of scores from both matches, typically played a couple of weeks apart.

This rugby fixture garners significant attention from spectators across the country. It is considered the most widely viewed rugby match in Sri Lanka, drawing larger crowds than both inter-club and international fixtures. This important event serves as a social gathering for the current and past pupils, their families, extended families and well-wishers with near-capacity attendance at venues and a significant viewership for the live broadcasts, both domestically and internationally.[2][3][4]

History

[edit]

Royal College and Trinity College were among the pioneers in embracing the game of rugby union in British Ceylon, with their maiden match held on 31 July 1920, marking a historic milestone. Subsequently, this encounter evolved into a yearly tradition, where Trinity College maintained an unbeaten streak for the first two decades, until their first defeat to Royal College in 1941. In 1943, the format evolved into a two-match series.[5][6]

In 1945, E. L. Bradby, the principal of Royal College,[7] extended an offer to C. E. Simithraaratchy, the principal of Trinity College,[8] proposing the donation of a coveted Shield. Simithraaratchy accepted this proposal. The Shield was to be contested annually, with the victor being the college that achieved the highest total score over the two-leg series, one leg played in Colombo and the other in Kandy, as initiated in 1943.[2][9][10][11]

This annual event has persevered through the years, with the exception of the year 1971, where only the first leg was played due to the 1971 JVP insurrection. The Shield was presented to Royal College, the victors of the first leg.[12] The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the event in both 2020 and 2021, marking the only other time in which this event could not take place.[13][14]

The Shield

[edit]

The shield, crafted by Kandyan silversmiths, was presented to the series by E. L. Bradby in 1945, at the end of his tenure as principal of Royal College. It is a wooden disk adorned with traditional Kandyan silverwork, symbolising victory.

After the second leg of the series, the shield is awarded to the winning team's captain during an on-field ceremony. The team retains the trophy until the next year's competition.[15]

Venue

[edit]

The Bradby Shield encounter is generally played in two legs, one in Colombo and the other in Kandy. Historically, the Colombo match was played at Longden Place, and since 1987, at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Matches were relocated to the Royal College Sports Complex in 2002, where they have been hosted ever since. Meanwhile, the Kandy leg of the tournament was held at the Bogambara Stadium or at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium. Trinity College's home ground, the Trinity College Rugby Stadium in Pallekele, hosted its first Bradby Shield match in 1997 and, since 2012, has regularly hosted the Kandy leg of the event.[15][16]

Locations and key abbreviations

[edit]
As of 7 September 2024
List of venues: 1920–present
No. Venue Location First match Abbreviated as Coordinates
1 University of Colombo Grounds Colombo 31 July 1920 Thurstan Road 6°54′10″N 79°51′53″E / 6.90274°N 79.86474°E / 6.90274; 79.86474
2 Bogambara Stadium Kandy 4 August 1922 Bogambara 7°17′20″N 80°38′08″E / 7.28900°N 80.63543°E / 7.28900; 80.63543
3 Royal College Sports Complex Colombo 28 July 1923 Reid Avenue (1923–1949)
RCSC (since 2012) 		6°54′10″N 79°51′53″E / 6.90274°N 79.86474°E / 6.90274; 79.86474
4 CR & FC Grounds Colombo 25 July 1931 Longden Place 6°54′02″N 79°52′15″E / 6.90042°N 79.87093°E / 6.90042; 79.87093
5 Police Park Colombo 11 July 1943 Police Park 6°53′39″N 79°51′45″E / 6.89414°N 79.86258°E / 6.89414; 79.86258
6 Colombo Racecourse Colombo 13 July 1945 Racecourse 6°54′18″N 79°51′50″E / 6.90504°N 79.86391°E / 6.90504; 79.86391
7 Nittawela Rugby Stadium Kandy 26 July 1958 Nittawela 7°18′59″N 80°38′04″E / 7.31644°N 80.63432°E / 7.31644; 80.63432
8 Havelock Park Colombo 2 July 1960 Havelock Park 6°53′14″N 79°52′00″E / 6.88724°N 79.86674°E / 6.88724; 79.86674
9 University Rugby Football Grounds Peradeniya 16 July 1960 Peradeniya 7°15′30″N 80°35′45″E / 7.25829°N 80.59582°E / 7.25829; 80.59582
10 CH & FC Grounds Colombo 21 July 1973 Maitland Crescent 6°54′28″N 79°51′57″E / 6.90779°N 79.86587°E / 6.90779; 79.86587
11 Sugathadasa Stadium Colombo 18 July 1987 Sugathadasa 6°56′53″N 79°52′08″E / 6.94804°N 79.86883°E / 6.94804; 79.86883
12 Trinity College Rugby Stadium Pallekele 21 June 1997 TCRS 7°16′45″N 80°42′34″E / 7.27907°N 80.70931°E / 7.27907; 80.70931

Inter-school rugby encounters: 1920–1944

[edit]

Statistics

[edit]
As of 21 July 1944
Match statistics
Venue Played Won by Drawn Total points
Royal Trinity Royal Trinity
Colombo 13 2 11 – 26 247
Kandy 9 1 8 – 27 163
Overall 22 3 19 – 53 410

Results

[edit]
As of 21 July 1944
Results: 1920–1944
Match Year Captains Date Venue Score Winner
Royal Trinity Royal Trinity
1 1920 C. G. A. Perera H. Ellis 31 July Thurstan Road 0 26 Trinity
– 1921 Not played
2 1922 G. H. Senarathne A. P. Maralande 4 August Bogambara 0 34 Trinity (2)
3 1923 W. P. L. Abeyratne P. A. Buultjens 28 July Reid Avenue 0 17 Trinity (3)
4 1924 J. R. Jayewardene P. A. Buultjens 1 August Bogambara 3 37 Trinity (4)
5 1925 D. W. L. Lieversz (Snr.) A. N. Myanga 18 July Thurstan Road 0 46 Trinity (5)
– 1926 Not played
– 1927 Not played
6 1928 H. S. Roberts M. Khin Maung 4 August Reid Avenue 6 23 Trinity (6)
– 1929 Not played
7 1930 R. C. W. Paulusz J. Duncan 5 August Bogambara 0 29 Trinity (7)
8 1931 G. A. K. Rockwood J. Duncan 25 July Longden Place 0 27 Trinity (8)
9 1932 S. A. Dissanyake S. Ratwatte 30 July Bogambara 0 9 Trinity (9)
10 1933 M. S. Ahamath E. W. A. Buultjens 15 July Reid Avenue 0 19 Trinity (10)
– 1934 Not played
11 1935 W. B. V. Thiedeman R. Breckenridge 13 July Reid Avenue 0 19 Trinity (11)
12 1936 C. de S. Illesinghe O. L. Izzadeen 11 July Bogambara 3 11 Trinity (12)
13 1937 E. I. Grey O. L. Izzadeen 17 July Reid Avenue 0 16 Trinity (13)
14 1938 R. H. Aldons W. Molegoda 25 June Bogambara 13 14 Trinity (14)
15 1939 S. E. Toussaint V. K. Vellayan 29 July Reid Avenue 3 14 Trinity (15)
16 1940 R. Kadiragamar S. B. Dissanayake 20 July Bogambara 3 9 Trinity (16)
17 1941 M. N. Jilla S. B. Dissanayake 12 July Reid Avenue 11 3 Royal
18 1942 A. R. Demmer W. Jenkins 25 July Reid Avenue 0 22 Trinity (17)
19 1943 C. O. Foenander W. Jenkins 11 July Police Park 6 0 Royal (2)
20 S. Navaratnam 24 July Bogambara 5 3 Royal (3)
21 1944 N. Vancuylenberg M. G. Wright 7 July Thurstan Road 0 15 Trinity (18)
22 21 July Bogambara 0 17 Trinity (19)

Bradby Shield series: 1945–present

[edit]

Statistics

[edit]
As of 23 August 2025

Results of the last encounter

[edit]
79th Bradby Shield 2025 (first leg)
23 August 2025
16:15 SLST
Trinity5–15Royal
Try: A. Malik 27' mReportTry: A. Samarasinghe 7' m
D. Pathirana 11' c
Con: M. Shimak (1/2) 12'
Pen: M. Shimak (1/1) 31'
Cards: D. Perera Yellow card 13'
I. Hiran Yellow card 44'
Y. Pathirana Yellow card 54'
Trinity College Rugby Stadium, Pallekele
Referee: D. J. Brouwer (BOPRU)
79th Bradby Shield 2025 (second leg)
6 September 2025
16:15 SLST
RoyalvTrinity
Report
Royal College Sports Complex, Colombo
Referee: D. J. Brouwer (BOPRU)

Results

[edit]
As of 7 September 2024
Bradby Shield Encounter: 1945–present
Series Year Captains Date Venue Score Winner Ref.
Royal Trinity Royal Trinity
1 1945 C. D. L. Fernando R. G. Sourjah (1L)
S. B. Pilapitiya (2L) 		13 July Racecourse 3 0 Trinity
20 July Bogambara 0 6
2 1946 M. Rodrigo S. B. Pilapitiya 6 July Police Park 3 0 Trinity (2)
20 July Bogambara 0 8
3 1947 N. W. Karunaratne G. Sanmugam 12 July Bogambara 0 6 Trinity (3)
9 August Police Park 0 0
4 1948 A. A. Cader A. R. A. Mohomed 3 July Police Park 6 3 Royal
17 July Bogambara 8 6
5 1949 G. C. Weinman K. Arumugam 3 July Reid Avenue 5 3 Royal (2)
16 July Bogambara 8 3
6 1950 T. St. C. Anghie S. S. Bambaradeniya 8 June Bogambara 0 6 Trinity (4)
24 July Racecourse 3 5
7 1951 H. E. Wijesinghe M. S. Panditharatne 4 July Longden Place 19 3 Royal (3)
21 July Bogambara 13 5
8 1952 A. B. Van Twest M. S. Panditharatne 5 July Police Park 0 6 Trinity (5)
19 July Bogambara 0 12
9 1953 T. S. Almeida (1L)
T. L. K. Mendis (2L) 		D. Madugalle 4 July Bogambara 0 13 Trinity (6)
22 July Longden Place 0 3
10 1954 K. W. W. Edwards L. L. Vitharana 10 July Longden Place 0 5 Trinity (7)
24 July Bogambara 5 6
11 1955 C. V. Gunaratne M. G. Ratwatte 11 July Bogambara 0 6 Trinity (8)
20 July Longden Place 0 0
12 1956 T. L. Almeida D. N. Frank 4 July Racecourse 0 15 Trinity (9)
28 July Bogambara 0 11
13 1957 R. Sivaratnam K. B. de Joedt 6 July Bogambara 0 8 Trinity (10)
19 July Longden Place 8 9
14 1958 D. N. Fernando K. B. de Joedt 12 July Longden Place 6 0 Royal (4)
26 July Nittawela 0 0
15 1959 M. L. Anghie D. L. Kobbekaduwa 4 July Bogambara 5 0 Royal (5)
18 July Longden Place 6 0
16 1960 H. S. de Silva E. D. K. Roles 2 July Havelock Park 3 5 Trinity (11)
16 July Peradeniya 0 8
17 1961 J. V. P. Samarasekara J. W. Jayawardena 1 July Bogambara 6 3 Royal (6)
15 July Longden Place 8 0
18 1962 U. L. Kaluaratchi N. T. E. Brohier 14 July Longden Place 5 0 Trinity (12)
28 July Bogambara 0 9
19 1963 M. Jayakumar B. D. A. Piyasena 11 July Bogambara 6 6 Trinity (13)
27 July Longden Place 3 5
20 1964 K. D. T. Paul M. T. Sahayam 11 July Longden Place 3 0 Royal (7)
25 July Nittawela 14 6
21 1965 U. P. Wickramasinghe M. T. M. Zarook 10 July Nittawela 8 3 Royal (8)
24 July Longden Place 3 3
22 1966 I. R. Thurairatnam E. G. Van Langenberg 9 July Longden Place 3 3 Trinity (14)
23 July Bogambara 3 8
23 1967 D. J. Perera (1L)
N. B. L. Lieversz (2L) 		A. L. Abeyratne 4 July Peradeniya 3 17 Trinity (15)
20 July Longden Place 3 16
24 1968 C. R. de Silva A. L. Abeyratne 9 July Longden Place 19 0 Royal (9)
24 July Peradeniya 5 3
25 1969 M. H. C. Malwatte M. S. Jainudeen 5 July Peradeniya 0 8 Trinity (16)
18 July Longden Place 3 9
26 1970 C. J. Fernando S. P. Samarasekara 4 July Longden Place 3 19 Trinity (17)
21 July Nittawela 12 16
27 1971 F. R. Perera Y. S. Ping 29 July Longden Place 22 3 Royal (10)
Second leg not played due to 1971 JVP insurrection
28 1972 G. D. S. Gunasekara A. E. Unantenne 1 July Longden Place 9 8 Trinity (18)
15 July Nittawela 3 10
29 1973 M. G. Muller J. K. Yu 9 July Nittawela 18 4 Royal (11)
21 July Maitland Crescent 4 12
30 1974 M. B. Akbar C. Y. Ching 6 July Longden Place 3 18 Trinity (19)
20 July Nittawela 9 12
31 1975 H. A. I. Hassen M. R. Sourjah 12 July Nittawela 13 11 Royal (12)
19 July Longden Place 21 3
32 1976 M. Weerakumar S. V. Ranasinghe 3 July Longden Place 36 0 Royal (13)
17 July Bogambara 25 6
33 1977 S. S. Hashim R. N. Balasuriya 2 July Bogambara 6 12 Trinity (20)
16 July Longden Place 4 10
34 1978 K. R. T. Peiris J. R. Kiridena 3 July Longden Place 0 0 Royal (14)
15 July Bogambara 8 4
35 1979 R. P. Gunasekara J. V. Tissera 7 July Bogambara 3 4 Royal (15)
21 July Longden Place 18 0
36 1980 S. Sujanthakumar T. B. Ellepola 5 July Longden Place 7 3 Royal (16)
19 July Nittawela 16 3
37 1981 N. S. Cooray R. Bandaranayake 4 July Nittawela 3 16 Trinity (21)
18 July Longden Place 10 3
38 1982 H. Muttiah B. S. J. Fernando 3 July Longden Place 6 9 Trinity (22)
17 July Nittawela 4 6
39 1983 S. Cooray A. D. Ratwatte 2 July Bogambara 6 14 Trinity (23)
16 July Longden Place 10 6
40 1984 S. Agalawatte D. M. Wijesinghe 7 July Longden Place 6 3 Royal (17)
21 July Bogambara 0 0
41 1985 C. Nanayakkara M. Jayatissa 6 July Bogambara 9 18 Trinity (24)
20 July Longden Place 4 3
42 1986 M. J. Peiris S. N. Gunaratne 5 July Longden Place 3 6 Trinity (25)
19 July Bogambara 3 9
43 1987 H. A. S. Madanayake (1L)
R. de Z. Gunarathne (2L) 		T. Rajapakse 2 July Bogambara 3 7 Trinity (26)
18 July Sugathadasa 3 19
44 1988 L. W. de Z. Gunarathne B. Dandeniya 2 July Sugathadasa 24 0 Royal (18)
16 July Bogambara 13 0
45 1989 J. H. A. Dhammika R. Ranaraja 5 August Bogambara 9 6 Royal (19)
14 August Sugathadasa 9 8
46 1990 R. Jayasuriya W. D. S. Premaratne (1L)
R. Kalpage (2L) 		6 July Sugathadasa 23 8 Royal (20)
21 July Bogambara 0 6
47 1991 M. Dahanayake M. A. Deen 6 July Bogambara 4 12 Trinity (27)
20 July Sugathadasa 10 25
48 1992 H. Wijesinghe H. M. Goonetileke 4 July Sugathadasa 3 3 Draw
19 July Nittawela 0 0
49 1993 C. R. A. Abeysuriya N. Muhandiramge 26 June Nittawela 3 0 Royal (21)
10 July Sugathadasa 10 3
50 1994 R. Malalasekara A. M. Rally 18 June Sugathadasa 10 3 Royal (22)
2 July Nittawela 8 8
51 1995 A. Assen M. A. H. Omar 17 June Nittawela 3 6 Trinity (28)
1 July Sugathadasa 6 22
52 1996 R. Gunatilake S. Amarasinghe 22 June Sugathadasa 3 30 Trinity (29)
6 July Nittawela 3 12
53 1997 A. Yusuf N. S. Fernando 21 June TCRS 6 14 Trinity (30)
5 July Sugathadasa 18 11
54 1998 W. S. S. R. Perera P. Jayawardena 20 June Sugathadasa 18 20 Royal (23)
4 July Bogambara 42 11
55 1999 D. R. Rahim R. Wickramasiri 19 June Bogambara 10 19 Trinity (31)
3 July Sugathadasa 7 13
56 2000 S. Perera H. A. Luchow 17 June Sugathadasa 25 32 Trinity (32)
1 July Bogambara 20 17
57 2001 H. Kaluaratchi T. Jayawardena 23 June Bogambara 12 6 Royal (24)
7 July Sugathadasa 16 0
58 2002 Z. Hamid N. S. A. Mendis 13 July RCSC 39 0 Royal (25)
27 July Bogambara 44 0
59 2003 R. Jayasundara M. Maddumapatabendi 19 July Bogambara 13 11 Royal (26)
2 August RCSC 13 8
60 2004 A. L. Dissanayake D. Senarath 7 August RCSC 41 6 Royal (27)
21 August Bogambara 10 0
61 2005 V. Wijewardene B. N. R. Fernando 10 September Bogambara 6 36 Trinity (33)
24 September RCSC 7 33
62 2006 C. S. Gamage I. Maddumapatabendi 9 September RCSC 10 21 Trinity (34)
23 September TCRS 5 26
63 2007 M. Abeyratne M. Wickramasiri (1L)
S. Wanigasekara (2L) 		9 June Bogambara 20 12 Royal (28)
23 June RCSC 15 11
64 2008 S. Lenaduwa M. N. Gunawardena 14 June RCSC 12 24 Trinity (35)
28 June TCRS 8 0
65 2009 N. Dhason V. Wijesinghe 30 May TCRS 22 12 Royal (29)
13 June RCSC 31 15
66 2010 D. Attygalle D. Dissanayake 12 May RCSC 38 37 Royal (30)
26 May Bogambara 34 17
67 2011 S. Pathirana M. Ramzeen 28 May Bogambara 33 25 Trinity (36)
11 June RCSC 5 40
68 2012 A. Jamaldeen K. Seneviratne 16 June RCSC 11 34 Trinity (37)
30 June TCRS 20 36
69 2013 R. Jamaldeen S. Singalaxana (1L)
H. Wadood (2L) 		1 June TCRS 25 37 Trinity (38)
15 June RCSC 13 9
70 2014 N. Jayawardena T. Ratwatte 10 May RCSC 16 28 Trinity (39)
24 May TCRS 18 19
71 2015 B. Gamage I. Rangala 9 May TCRS 23 22 Royal (31)
24 May RCSC 49 0
72 2016 N. Gunadheera R. Karunanayake 30 April RCSC 22 17 Draw (2) [17]
14 May TCRS 13 18
73 2017 O. Askey N. Yee 20 May TCRS 22 17 Royal (32)
3 June RCSC 13 8
74 2018 S. Feroze A. Shiek 21 April RCSC 39 7 Royal (33)
5 May TCRS 27 19
75 2019 T. Hassen R. Bandaranayake 1 June TCRS 34 17 Royal (34)
15 June RCSC 13 24
– 2020 Not played due to COVID-19 pandemic – – –
–
– 2021 Not played due to COVID-19 pandemic – – –
–
76 2022 H. Peiris L. Moragoda 20 August RCSC 29 0 Royal (35)
3 September TCRS 21 26
77 2023 R. Senanayake A. Manzil 22 July TCRS 10 13 Royal (36)
5 August RCSC 27 17
78 2024 T. Perera T. Dissanayaka[d] 24 August RCSC 16 17 Trinity (40) [18]
[19]
7 September TCRS 23 25
79 2025 A. Samarasinghe M. U. Shafraz 23 August TCRS 15 5 TBD (TBD) [20]
6 September RCSC TBD TBD

Other competitions: 1987–present

[edit]

Statistics

[edit]
As of 5 July 2025
Match statistics
Venue Played Won by Drawn Total points
Royal Trinity Royal Trinity
Colombo 5 2 3 – 84 88
Kandy 1 – 1 – 12 34
Overall 6 2 4 – 96 122

Results of the last match

[edit]
2025 Dialog Schools Rugby League – Round 1, Game week 5
5 July 2025
16:15 SLST
Trinity34–12Royal
Try: N. Kumarasinghe (2) 13' c, 67' m
E. Jayasena 18' m
U. Wijekoon 26' c
M. Yaddehige (2) 57' m, 70' m
Con: S. Althaf (2/4) 13', 27'
Cards: A. Fernando Yellow card 6'
S. Weerawansa Yellow card 59'		ReportPen: I. Farook (4/4) 22', 29', 35', 41'
Trinity College Rugby Stadium, Pallekele
Referee: R. Alexander (SL)

Results

[edit]
As of 5 July 2025
Results: 1987–present
Year Tournament Captains Date Venue Score Winner Ref.
Royal Trinity Royal Trinity
1987 R. Premadasa Trophy
Quarter-finals 		H. A. S. Madanayake T. Rajapakse 30 August Sugathadasa 6 10 Trinity [21]
1993 R. Premadasa Trophy
Quarter-finals 		C. R. A. Abeysuriya N. Muhandiramge 6 September Sugathadasa 6 9 Trinity
2014 Milo President's Trophy
Semi-finals 		N. Jayawardena T. Ratwatte 3 July RCSC 30 29 Royal [22]
2022 Dialog Schools Rugby League
Round 1, Game week 3 		H. Peiris L. Moragoda 8 July RCSC 20 21 Trinity [23]
2024 Dialog Schools Rugby League
Round 2, Game week 2 		T. Perera T. Dissanayaka[d] 17 August Sugathadasa 22 19 Royal [24]
2025 Dialog Schools Rugby League
Round 1, Game week 5 		A. Samarasinghe M. U. Shafraz 5 July TCRS 12 34 Trinity [25]

Overall record: 1920–present

[edit]
As of 23 August 2025
Match statistics
Tournament Span Played Won by Drawn Total points
Royal Trinity Royal Trinity
Inter-school 1920–1944 22 3 19 – 53 410
Bradby Shield 1945–present 156 73 72 11 1,726 1,581
Other competitions 1987–present 6 2 4 – 96 122
Overall 1920–present 184 78 95 11 1,875 2,113

Match and series records

[edit]
As of 7 September 2024
Records: 1945–present
Record Royal Trinity Ref.
Winning the encounter after losing the first leg 3 (1979, 1998 and 2023) 5 (1945, 1946, 1962, 1972 and 2011)
Winning the encounter after drawing the first leg 1 (1978) 2 (1963 and 1966)
The biggest comeback win Lost the first leg 18–20 in 1998, but won the second leg 42–11 and the encounter by a margin of 29 points. Lost the first leg 25–33 in 2011, but won the second leg 40–5 and overturned a deficit of 8 points to win the encounter by a margin of 27 points. [26]
[27]
Longest winning streak 5 (between 2017 and 2023)[b] 6 (1952–1957)
  • The longest winning streak in the series.
 [28]
[29]
The highest aggregate score by a team in an encounter 83 points in 2002.
  • The record for the highest aggregate score by a team in the series over two legs.
 70 points in 2012. [30]
[31]
The highest margin of victory in an encounter 83 points (83–0) in 2002.
  • The highest recorded victory margin in the series over two legs.
 56 points (69–13) in 2005. [30]
[32]
The record for the highest score achieved by a team in a single match 49 points in 2015 second leg.
  • The highest recorded in a single match.
 40 points in 2011 second leg. [33]
[27]
The highest aggregate score achieved by both teams in a single match 75 points in 2010 first leg, with Royal winning 38–37. [34]
The highest aggregate score achieved by both teams in an encounter 126 points in 2010, with Royal winning 72–54. [35]
Drawn encounters
  • In 1992, the Bradby encounter ended in a draw as both legs concluded with scores of 3–3 in the first leg and 0–0 in the second leg. This marked the first time such an outcome had occurred in Bradby history.
  • In 2016, Royal won the first leg 22–17, while Trinity won the second leg 18–13. The encounter ended in a draw, with both teams scoring 35 points each.
 [36]
[17]

Notable moments in Bradby Shield history

[edit]
  • 1971 – Due to security concerns stemming from the 1971 JVP Insurrection, only the first leg of the 27th encounter was staged between the schools. The Shield was awarded to Royal College as a result of the first leg at an assembly by E. L. Fernando, the then-principal of Trinity College.[12]
  • 1983 – E. L. Bradby, former principal of Royal College, and his wife travelled to Sri Lanka as guests of the Royal College Union for the second leg of the 39th encounter.[37]
  • 1987 – J. R. Jayewardene, the President of Sri Lanka at the time, attended the second leg of the 43rd encounter as the chief guest. He had previously captained the Royal College team in 1924 against Trinity College, where they lost 3–37.[21]
  • 2013 – Sir Graham Henry, former head coach of the All Blacks and winning coach of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, attended as the guest of honour for the first leg of the 69th encounter, held on 1 June 2013 at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium. The match was officiated by Jonathan Kaplan, a renowned international rugby union referee with four Rugby World Cup appearances to his credit.[38][39]

To cap the journey I refereed the annual Bradby Shield Encounter between Trinity College and Royal College in the beautiful mountain city of Kandy. The crowd of 14 000 included none other than Graham Henry, the guest of honour, and former pupils from around the world who converged on Kandy for the match. It was an experience that, for me, ranks right up there with the best schoolboy fixtures anywhere in the world.

— Jonathan Kaplan, Call It Like It Is: The Jonathan Kaplan Story (2014)[40]

  • 2019
    • The 2019 encounter marked the 75th anniversary of the series. The matches were postponed numerous times in the aftermath of the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings and was played under heightened security.[41][42]
    • The first leg of the 75th encounter was officiated by Aaqil Jamaldeen, who captained the Royal College 1st XV rugby team in 2012. His father, Nizam Jamaldeen, had previously officiated the encounter in 2001. They are the only father and son to have refereed in Bradby Shield encounters.[43]
  • 2020 and 2021 – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series was suspended in 2020 and 2021, marking the first time in its history that the Bradby series was totally halted.[13][14]
  • 2024 – The first and second legs of the 78th encounter, held on 24 August and 7 September 2024 respectively, were officiated by United Arab Emirates Rugby Federation referees Jaco de Wit and Brayden Hudson.[44][45]
  • 2025
    • Trinity College won the 2025 Dialog Schools Rugby League on 2 August 2025, securing the domestic inter-school rugby title with one game remaining. This marks the first time in the history of the series that one of the two teams will enter the annual encounter as the reigning inter-school rugby champions of the country.[46][47]
    • David Jacobus Brouwer, affiliated with the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union (BOPRU) in New Zealand, will officiate both legs of the 79th encounter.[48]

Community engagement programmes

[edit]

The souvenir

[edit]

Since 1977, the Royal College Interact Club has published the Bradby Souvenir to commemorate the encounter's Colombo leg.[49][50]

Bradby express

[edit]

The Bradby express was the name given to the regular Intercity Express train service offered by the Sri Lanka Railways that was packed with students and old boys from both schools on their way to the Kandy leg of the encounter – hence the name Bradby Express. It started off in the 1950s and was held yearly until the mid-1980s, when it was halted due to security concerns resulting from the intensification of the Sri Lankan civil war and the Insurrection 1987–89.[51]

Since the end of the conflict, a chartered train dubbed as The Bradby express has served this role, transporting Royal supporters to and from Kandy for the event.[51]

Bradby golf

[edit]

Former Royal and Trinity students compete for the G. C. Wickremesinghe Challenge Trophy, a golf tournament hosted at the Victoria Golf and Country Resort since 2016 before the Kandy leg of the Bradby Shield encounter. Team Trinity leads the series 6–3.[52]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Due to the JVP insurrection, only the first leg was played in 1971.
  2. ^ a b Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series was suspended in 2020 and 2021.
  3. ^ 79th encounter first leg result only. Second leg yet to be played
  4. ^ a b The regular team captain, A. Kodithuwakku, was sidelined due to injury. Trinity was led by the vice-captain.
Sources
  • "Centenary Number, Trinity College, Kandy, 1872–1972" (PDF). noolaham.net. 17 March 1972. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  • Perera, S. S. (June 1994). Royal vs Trinity – 50 Years of Bradby Shield 1945–1994. Bradby Shield Encounter Organising Committee.
  • Behind the Shield – the history, the heroes, the hearts of 75 years 1945–2019. Bradby Shield Encounter Organising Committee. June 2019.
  • "The Trinity Story 1872–2022". history.trinitycollege.lk. 12 February 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 79th Bradby Shield dates confirmed
  2. ^ a b "The Bradby Shield – Sri Lanka Schools' Coveted Rugby Encounter". Asia Rugby. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 July 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  3. ^ Stoney, Emma (25 April 2012). "A Passion for Rugby in an Unexpected Place". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Rugby: Sri Lanka, Asia's little-known rugby haven". Dawn. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 March 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Summa recalls Royal's maiden Bradby win". www.sundaytimes.lk. 21 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  6. ^ "That coveted Bradby Shield". ThePapare. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 July 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  7. ^ Dissanayaka, T. D. S. A. (13 July 2003). "Sacred to the Memory of Principal E. L. Bradby". Blue & Gold. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Mr. C. E. Simithraaratchy". Trinity College Kandy. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  9. ^ Marikar, Hafiz (30 May 2019). "The Beginnings of Bradby". Daily News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Bradby". The Royal College. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Back in the mane game". Quadrangle. 18 April 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b Ratnatunga, Janek (12 June 2021). "The 1971 Bradby – "The Shocker at the Rugger"". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b Marikar, Hafiz (7 November 2020). "Bradby Shield: a no-go". Daily News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  14. ^ a b Silva, Sujith (21 August 2022). "Royal in a Runaway Victory, Take 1st Leg of 76th Bradby". Quadrangle. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Behind the Shield – The history, the heroes, the hearts of 75 years: 1945–2019". 20 August 2019. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Sri Lanka Rugby was built around the Bradby Shield – Asanga Seneviratne". ThePapare. 27 April 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  17. ^ a b Peiris, Sudarshana (14 May 2016). "The Bradby shared as Trinity triumph in the Lion's den". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  18. ^ Perera, Nilhan (24 August 2024). "Althaf's Drop Goal secures famous win for Trinity Lions". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 24 May 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  19. ^ Perera, Nilhan (7 September 2024). "Decade of Waiting Ends: Trinity College Wins the Bradby Shield". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  20. ^ Perera, Nilhan (23 August 2025). "Royal tame the error-ridden Trinity Lions with a memorable performance". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  21. ^ a b Silva, Sujith (1 June 2018). "Invincible '87". Quadrangle. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  22. ^ "President's Trophy Semi Finals ; Royal Triumphs In A Royal Vs.Trinity Thriller!". royalcollege.lk. 8 July 2014. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  23. ^ Jaleel, Shamseer (9 July 2022). "Dialog Schools Rugby League 2022: Trinity edges out Royal in a thriller". www.ft.lk. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  24. ^ Christminth, Dishane (18 August 2024). "Royal College Edge Trinity in Thrilling Encounter". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Trinity roar leaves Royal stunned at Pallekele". Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. 6 July 2025. Archived from the original on 6 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  26. ^ Izzadeen, Saif; Seneviratne, Shane (5 July 1998). "Royal romp to record victory". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  27. ^ a b Jaleel, Shamseer (12 June 2011). "Trinity end Royal reign". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  28. ^ de Joodt, Ken (26 October 2015). "David and His Lionhearts". Quadrangle. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Down Bradby Lane...to 1958". island.lk. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  30. ^ a b Abdeen, S. M. Jiffrey (28 July 2002). "Trinity whipped again and Royal take 'Bradby". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  31. ^ Abdeen, S. M. Jiffrey (1 July 2012). "Trinity retain Bradby Shield with a superb 36-20 win over Royal". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  32. ^ Jaleel, Shamseer (25 September 2005). "Royal bashed again. Lions on the prowl after four long years". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  33. ^ Walagedara, Indika (24 May 2015). "Royal regain Bradby Shield with rampaging 49-0 win". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  34. ^ Weerawansa, Dinesh (26 June 2010). "Can Royal tame Trinity Lions in their den?". Daily News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  35. ^ Abdeen, S. M. Jiffrey (27 June 2010). "A Right Royal Bradby Win". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  36. ^ Kuruppu, Aubrey (5 May 2019). "A Look Back at Some Memorable Bradby Games". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  37. ^ Cooray, Sriyan (31 May 2020). "Spirit of the Bradby is Just Amazing". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  38. ^ Stephens, David (16 June 2013). "Kaplan will bury his whistle at the end of the season". www.sundaytimes.lk. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  39. ^ Abdeen, S. M. Jiffey (2 June 2013). "Trinity in superb fight back – beat Royal 37–25". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  40. ^ Kaplan, Jonathan (5 June 2014). Call It Like It Is: The Jonathan Kaplan Story. Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN 978-1-77022-586-2.
  41. ^ Fowler-Watt, Andrew (1 May 2019). "The 2019 Bradby Shield". Trinity College. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  42. ^ Jameel, Abidh (12 June 2019). "75th Bradby Shield, 2019 – 1st Leg". Trinity College. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  43. ^ "Nizam-Aaqil only father-son to officiate Bradby". www.dailymirror.lk. 3 June 2019. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  44. ^ Weerasinghe, Damith (24 August 2024). "Foreign Referee to officiate at 78th Bradby Shield". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  45. ^ De Silva, Romario (5 September 2024). "Youngster Brayden Hudson set to take Charge of Bradby 2nd Leg". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  46. ^ Jameel, Abidh (2 August 2025). "Trinity crowned Dialog Schools Rugby League Champions with a week to go". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 2 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  47. ^ "Champs after four decades!!!". Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. 3 August 2025. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  48. ^ Jaleel, Shamseer (21 August 2025). "Jaco to referee for 79th Bradby Shield Encounter". Daily FT. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  49. ^ "Royal College – Interact Club". royalcollege.lk. 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  50. ^ "GlidAR creates Augmented Reality experience for 75th Bradby Shield Souvenir". Daily FT. 6 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  51. ^ a b Ratnayake, Yasas (20 June 2010). "The Bradby express". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  52. ^ "Bradby Golf to tee off tomorrow". Daily FT. 21 August 2025. Archived from the original on 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]