Sri Lanka, July 31 -- Rugby was introduced to Sri Lanka in the late 1800s, and today it boasts a large playing population and a television audience. The Bradby Shield encounter - popularly called 'The Bradby' - is the highlight of the Sri Lanka school's rugby calendar. It is played annually between traditional rivals Trinity College and Royal College.

The encounter consists of two legs, one being played in Kandy and the other in Colombo. The winner is decided on the aggregate of the scores from these two matches, usually played a few weeks apart.

The Bradby shield games are generally played in late July or early August and is the most watched rugby match in the country, drawing more spectators than either inter-club or even internationa...