Sri Lanka: Dialog Rugby A-Division Season 2019-2020

The premier rugby union league in Sri Lanka, the Dialog A-Division Rugby Season 2019-2020 starts this weekend on November 29th 2019.

Dialog Club A-Division Rugby Tournament 2019-2020

League Format

The rugby tournament, or league, is organised by Sri Lanka Rugby and sponsored by Dialog Axiata PLC according to the Sri Lanka Rugby website.

There are eight teams playing over the course of 16 weeks with the team with the most points at the end of the regular season declared the champions. All teams will play each other home and away.

In addition to the regular red and yellow cards, blue cards will also be used to indicate a concussion.

Points System

In a unique points system, the following apply:

• 5 points are awarded for a win.
• 3 points for a draw.
• 0points for a loss.
• Bonus Points (BP) are awarded for scoring four tries or more (1 BP), or for losing by less than 7 points (1 BP).

Dialog Cup and Plate: Dialog Rugby A-Division Season 2019-2020

Confusingly, the information on the Sri Lanka rugby website says that the top 4 placed teams at the end of week-14, will play for the Dialog Cup in a Super League round. Meanwhile, the bottom 4 teams will play for the Dialog Super League Plate.

However, The Papare says “In contrast to last year, this year’s tournament will not feature the super round following the conclusion of the 14-week league structure and will stick to the original structure.”

Which teams are playing?

Kandy SC are the defending champion while Havelocks SC was the runner up last season. The 8 teams competing are:

• Kandy SC
• Havelocks SC
• CH & FC
• CR & FC
• Police SC
• Army SC
• Navy SC
• Air Force SC

It appears as if only the bottom-placed 4 teams from last season “are entitled to have one overseas player.” These clubs are CR & FC, Air Force, Army and Police SC.

Round 1 Dialog Rugby A-Division

• November 29th 2019: Navy SC vs Havelock SC
• November 29th 2019: CH & FC vs Army SC
• November 30th 2019: CR & FC vs Police SC
• December 1st 2019: Kandy SC vs Air Force SC

The games for the Dialog Rugby A-Division Season 2019-2020 will also be streamed on Dialog in Sri Lanka. The Papare Rugby will have a lot of coverage of the league as the media partner and you can follow the latest news and results on their website.

https://www.facebook.com/thepaparerugby/videos/423463428596409/?t=1

The club versus country debate has been fiercely contested within Sri Lanka rugby with the SLR(Sri Lanka Rugby) claiming the top clubs hold players back from national duty.

Find out more about rugby in Sri Lanka

• The ICBT Inter-University Sevens took place in August.
• Read about the club versus country rugby issue in Sri Lanka.
• The Mercantile 7s and Dialog Inter-Club 7s are played mid-year.
• Will rugby turn professional in Sri Lanka?