Clifford Cup

Last updated
Clifford Cup
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2019 Clifford Cup
Sport Rugby union
Instituted1911
Inaugural season1911
Number of teams8
CountryFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka (SLRFU)
Holders Police Sports Club (2024)
Most titles Kandy Sports Club (21 titles)
Broadcast partner Dialog TV
Related competition Sri Lanka Rugby Championship (Nippon Paint Rugby League)

The Clifford Cup is the most prestigious club rugby knockout tournament in Sri Lanka, [1] [2] and arguably the oldest rugby tournament in Asia. [3] The Clifford Cup commenced in 1911 and has been played continuously since 1950, having completed 79 seasons. The tournament began as a competition between the mercantile executives in Colombo and planters in the hill country.

Contents

History

1911-1913

In 1911 Lady Elizabeth Clifford (the wife of the acting Governor of Ceylon, Sir Hugh Clifford) was interested in the annual rugby football fixture, Colombo versus Up Country, and expressed a wish that a match take place in Colombo on her birthday, 26 August, between teams representing the United Services and All Ceylon. [1] [4] Due to unforeseen circumstances the scheduled date was put off by a week and the first Lady Clifford Cup match (as it was originally called) [2] was played on 2 September 1911, with the United Services team defeating All Ceylon 25 points to 0. [4] The All Ceylon team was composed entirely of European expatriates and the United Services team of members of the army and police force. In 1914 the army regiment from which many of the United Services were drawn was transferred from Ceylon following the outbreak of World War I. [5]

1926-1938

The competition was suspended until 1926 due to the war. In 1925 Sir Hugh Clifford returned to Ceylon as the Governor of Ceylon [5] and Lady Clifford, who was keen to revive the Clifford Cup tournament, donated another trophy for the competition in 1926. This time the Clifford Cup was awarded to the winner of a quadrangular tournament between four teams; Low Country, Up Country, Ceylonese and the United Services. [4] [3] The competition pitted the Low Country against High Country teams and Ceylonese against United Services, with the respective winners competing for the cup. The first tournament in 1926 featured, Ceylonese R & FC, a team composed entirely of locally born players. Ceylonese R & FC lost their match against the United Services team, 3–6. [5] The cup was eventually won by Low Country, 14–3, against United Services. The following year Ceylonese R & FC defeated United Services, 16–8, [5] before losing to the cup winners, Up Country, 11–8.

1950-present

The competition then continued until 1938, when it was disrupted by the advent of the Second World War. [4] In 1950 the Central Province Rugby Football Union decided to grant official status to the league rugby tournament and the Clifford Cup was converted to an inter-club competition played amongst eight clubs, Kandy Sports Club, Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club, Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club, Uva Gymkhana Club, Kelani Valley Club, Havelock Sports Club, Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club and Colombo Hockey and Football Club. [4] [3] [1] The Havelock Sports Club won the inaugural cup for that year, ending an undefeated season by the club by defeating Dimbula A & CC, 13–0. [1] [4] Havelock SC retained the cup the following year again maintaining an unbeaten record during the season. In 1953 Dimbula became the first club from Up-Country to win the Clifford Cup by defeating the previous years cup holders, Ceylonese R & FC, 6–0. [4] [6] The Kandy Sporting Club made their first appearance in a Clifford Cup final in 1954, where they lost 21–5 against Ceylonese R & FC. The cup was shared for the first time in 1959 when Dimbula and Ceylonese R & FC competed in an 11-all draw. [1]

In 1961 five 'affiliated' rugby clubs, Police, Army, University, Air Force and Navy from Division 'B' were invited to join the tournament and play against the 'constituent clubs', forming a thirteen team competition. The format of the competition was also changed, whereby all 13 clubs had to play each other once on a home and away basis in alternate years and at the end of the league season the best eight teams competed in a knock-out tournament for the Clifford Cup.

In 1985 the rugby league competition was renamed the John Player "Gold Leaf" Rugby Championships and the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union decided to award the Clifford Cup to the winners of a separate knock-out tournament, conducted amongst the 'A' Division Clubs, held at the end of the regular season. [1]

In 1992 the Clifford Cup final was held in Kandy at Nittawella Stadium, the first time the cup final to be played outside of Colombo since 1957, at which Kandy SC defeated Police SC, by 22–9. [7] On that occasion both Ceylonese R & FC and Colombo H and FC boycotted the competition. [8] The Cup final, since 1992, has been held in Kandy with the exception being in 2006 when it was switched back to Colombo, resulting in Kandy SC withdrawing from that year's competition in protest. [7] On that occasion the cup was won by Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club who defeated Havelock SC, 37–5. In 1998 the SLRFU decided to suspend the competition due to security concerns relating to the ongoing civil conflict however they resolved to reinstate it the following year. Since 2006 the cup final was held continuously in Kandy until 2011 when it was agreed to alternate the finals between Colombo and Kandy. [7] [9]

In 2014 the Clifford Cup tournament was played in February/March, shifting from its traditional dates in the September/October period, resulting in no competition being played in 2013. In 2019 the reigning cup holders, Kandy SC withdrew from the competition after being refused permission to play at their home ground, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. [10] In 2020 and 2021 the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [11] Due to 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis the league competition was shortened with each team, playing each other only once and the Clifford Cup competition was cancelled for a third year running. [12] In 2023 the tournament returned after a three year hiatus. The competition however was only contested by six teams, with Kandy SC withdrawing on the basis that none of their games would be played on their home ground, [13] [14] and Colombo Hockey and Football Club advising that they would not be able to field a team, due to player injuries and migration. [15] The cup was won by the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club, their fifteenth win and the first since 2006. [16]

Trophy

In 1911 Lady Clifford consented to provide two cups, which in the event of the Services winning, one would go to the Army and the other to the Navy whilst if the All Ceylon team won, one cup will go to Colombo, and the other to Up Country. [1]

The competition was suspended until 1926 due to World War I and during that time the original trophy was lost or misplaced. Lady Clifford, who was keen to revive the Clifford Cup tournament, donated another trophy for the competition in 1926. [1]

Teams

Current teams

Former teams

Results

1911-1913
YearClifford Cup
Cup winner Runners-up Final Venue Final
1911 United Services All Ceylon Rugby Football Club 25-0
1912 All Ceylon Rugby Football Club United Services 8-0
1913 United Services All Ceylon Rugby Football Club 3-0
1926-1938
YearClifford Cup
Cup winner Runners-up Final Venue Final
1926 Low Country United Services 14-3
1927 Up Country Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 11-8
1928 Low Country Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 15-11
1929 Low Country United Services 23-3
1930 Low Country Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 14-3
1931 Low Country Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 27-6
1932 Up Country United Services 14-10
1933 Up Country United Services 20-3
1934 Low Country Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 17-0
1935 Up Country United Services 11-0
1936 Low Country United Services 9-3
1937 Up Country United Services 25-10
1938 Up Country Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 10-0
1950-1999
YearClifford Cup
Cup winner Runners-up Final Venue Final
1950 Havelock Sports Club Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club 13-0
1951 Havelock Sports Club
1952 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Uva Gymkhana Club 19-0
1953 Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 6-0
1954 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Kandy Sports Club 21-5
1955 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Kandy Sports Club
1956 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Dim/Dicks
1957 Colombo Hockey and Football Club Dim/Dicks
1958 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club
1959 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club 		drawn game11-11
1960 Colombo Hockey and Football Club Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club
1961 Havelock Sports Club Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club 11-9
1962 Colombo Hockey and Football Club Army Sports Club 6-6 [nb 1]
1963 Havelock Sports Club
1964 Havelock Sports Club
1965 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1966 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1967 Havelock Sports Club Police Sports Club Longdon Place 11-3
1968 Havelock Sports Club
1969 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1970 Havelock Sports Club
Police Sports Club 		drawn game6-6
1971 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1972 Police Sports Club Colombo Hockey and Football Club Havelock Park 12-9
1973 Army Sports Club
Police Sports Club 		drawn game19-19
1974 Havelock Sports Club Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 16-4
1975 Army Sports Club Army Sports Club 4-3
1976 Havelock Sports Club Navy Sports Club 15-3
1977 Havelock Sports Club Air Force Sports Club
1978 Havelock Sports Club Kandy Sports Club Longdon Place 10-4
1979 Police Sports Club
1980 Police Sports Club
1981 Havelock Sports Club
1982 Colombo Hockey and Football Club
1983 Colombo Hockey and Football Club
1984 Police Sports Club
1985 Police Sports Club Havelock Sports Club 22-16
1986 Air Force Sports Club Police Sports Club 10-8
1987 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1988 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1989 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Navy Sports Club 6-3
1990 Colombo Hockey and Football Club Havelock Sports Club 4-0
1991 Police Sports Club Colombo Hockey and Football Club 13-11
1992 Kandy Sports Club Police Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 22-9
1993 Kandy Sports Club Colombo Hockey and Football Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 18-16
1994 Colombo Hockey and Football Club Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 15-11
1995 Kandy Sports Club Police Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 16-12
1996 Kandy Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium
1997 Kandy Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium
1998No tournament
1999 Kandy Sports Club Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 21-18
YearClifford Cup
Cup winner Runners-up Final Venue Final
2000 Kandy Sports Club Army Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 39-12
2001 Kandy Sports Club Army Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 17-16
2002 Kandy Sports Club Army Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 26-19
2003 Kandy Sports Club Colombo Hockey and Football Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 30-22
2004 Kandy Sports Club Havelock Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 51-20
2005 Kandy Sports Club Colombo Hockey and Football Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 31-6
2006 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Havelock Sports Club Longdon Place 37-05 [nb 2]
2007 Kandy Sports Club Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 16-5
2008 Kandy Sports Club Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 21-0
2009 Kandy Sports Club Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 10-6
2010 Kandy Sports Club Navy Sports Club Bogambara Stadium 26-11
2011 Kandy Sports Club Navy Sports Club Royal College Sports Complex 17-6
2012 Kandy Sports Club Havelock Sports Club Bogambara Stadium 7-5
2013No tournament
2014 Navy Sports Club Havelock Sports Club Colombo Racecourse 27-22
2015 Kandy Sports Club Police SC Nittawella Rugby Stadium 77-7
2016 Kandy Sports Club Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Colombo Racecourse 31-28
2017 Kandy Sports Club Havelock Sports Club Nittawella Rugby Stadium 32-20
2018 Kandy Sports Club Navy Sports Club Longdon Place 21-7
2019 Havelock Sports Club Air Force Sports Club Colombo Racecourse 40-21
2020Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022Competition cancelled due to national political crisis
2023 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Navy Sports Club Colombo Racecourse 24-18
2024 Police Sports Club Havelock Sports Club Colombo Racecourse19-12

Total wins

The Kandy Sports Club has won the Clifford Cup a record 21 times, including a consecutive period of ten years between 1995 and 2005 (the competition was not held in 1998) and six consecutive years between 2007 and 2012. In 2006 the Kandy Sports Club and Navy SC both withdrew from the tournament (Kandy due to dispute over the ground allocation and Navy as their members were called up for national service duty), the Cup was won by the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. The Ceylonese R & FC have won it 14 times, including a tie with Dimbula ACC, Havelock SC have also won 14 times including a tie with Police SC, Police SC eight times with ties against Havelock SC and Army SC, Colombo H & FC seven times, Dimbula A & CC twice including a tie with Ceylonese R & FC, Army SC twice with one tie with Police SC, whilst Air Force SC and Navy SC have only won the cup once. [2] [4]

ClubWinsSeasons
Kandy Sports Club 211992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club 151952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959‡, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2006, 2023
Havelock Sports Club 141950, 1951, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1970‡, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 2019
Police Sports Club 91970‡, 1972, 1973‡, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1991, 2024
Colombo Hockey and Football Club 71957, 1960, 1962, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1994
Low Country 71926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936
Up Country 61927, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1938
Army Sports Club 21973‡, 1975
Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club 21953, 1959‡
United Services 21911, 1913
Air Force Sports Club 11986
Navy Sports Club 1 2014
All Ceylon 11912

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wijerante, Neil (9 March 2014). "Clifford Cup - The Blue Riband of Sri Lanka Rugby" (PDF). Sunday Leader . p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Mendis, Richard (18 August 2007). "Clifford Cup". The Island . Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 de Joodt, Ken (14 August 2013). "Re-capping the Glory Days of Rugby". Ceylon Today . Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Marikar, Hafiz (20 August 2011). "Clifford Cup trophy now 100 years". Daily News . Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 De Alwis, Sharm. "Looking Back on the Clifford Cup". Sunday Leader . Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  6. ↑ Marikar, Hafiz (29 July 2010). "When will they lose their Prestige". Daily News . Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Marikar, Hafiz (7 September 2011). "Change of Clifford Cup venues". Daily News . Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "Kandy or Colombo: a 72-mile long debate". The Sunday Leader . 4 June 2006. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Marika, Hafiz (12 March 2014). "When KSC let slip the Clifford Cup". Daily News . Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Marikar, Hafiz (14 March 2019). "Kandy SC withdraws from Clifford Cup knockout". The Daily News . Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Ramakrishnan, Karuppiah (3 April 2020). "Clifford Cup k/o rugby postponed for next year". The Daily News . Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Clifford Cup and League postponed". Daily FT. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Sri Lanka Rugby clarifies its stand on Clifford Cup". The Daily News . 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Kandy SC hits back at SLR over Clifford Cup venue". Sunday Observer. 5 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  15. ↑ Peiris, Sudarshana (23 February 2023). "Historic Clifford Cup returns sans Kandy SC & CH&FC". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  16. ↑ Dhambarage, Chris (7 March 2023). "CR win Clifford Cup in their centenary season". The Daily News . Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

Notes

  1. ↑ In 1962 the competition ended in a draw but the cup was awarded to CH&FC on the basis of their unbeaten record during the season.
  2. ↑ In 2006 Kandy SC withdrew from the competition in protest against the SLRFU's decision to hold the cup final in Colombo.
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