Clifford Cup

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.

Clifford Cup
Current season or competition:
2019 Clifford Cup
SportRugby union
Instituted1911
Inaugural season1911
Number of teams8
Country Sri Lanka (SLRFU)
HoldersHavelock Sports Club (2019)
Most titlesKandy Sports Club (21 titles)
Broadcast partnerDialog TV
Related competitionSri Lanka Rugby Championship (Dialog Rugby League)

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 R & FC 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 the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Trophy

In 1911 Lady Clifford consenting 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

Club Stadium Capacity Established
Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Longdon Place 5,550 1922
Colombo Hockey and Football Club Maitland Park 2,000 1892
Havelock Sports Club Havelock Park 1915
Kandy Sports Club Nittawela Rugby Stadium 25,000 1888
Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club Air Force Ground Ratmalana
Sri Lanka Army Sports Club Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium 1963
Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club Welisara Navy ground
Sri Lanka Police Sports Club Police Park 1,000 1926

Former teams

Results

1911-1913
YearClifford Cup
Cup winnerRunners-upFinal VenueFinal
1911 United ServicesAll Ceylon Rugby Football Club25-0
1912 All Ceylon Rugby Football ClubUnited Services8-0
1913 United ServicesAll Ceylon Rugby Football Club3-0
1926-1938
YearClifford Cup
Cup winnerRunners-upFinal VenueFinal
1926 Low CountryUnited Services14-3
1927 Up CountryCeylonese Rugby & Football Club11-8
1928 Low CountryCeylonese Rugby & Football Club15-11
1929 Low CountryUnited Services23-3
1930 Low CountryCeylonese Rugby & Football Club14-3
1931 Low CountryCeylonese Rugby & Football Club27-6
1932 Up CountryUnited Services14-10
1933 Up CountryUnited Services20-3
1934 Low CountryCeylonese Rugby & Football Club17-0
1935 Up CountryUnited Services11-0
1936 Low CountryUnited Services9-3
1937 Up CountryUnited Services25-10
1938 Up CountryCeylonese Rugby & Football Club10-0
1950-1999
YearClifford Cup
Cup winnerRunners-upFinal VenueFinal
1950 Havelock Sports ClubDimbula Athletic & Cricket Club13-0
1951 Havelock Sports Club
1952 Ceylonese Rugby & Football ClubUva Gymkhana Club19-0
1953 Dimbula Athletic & Cricket ClubCeylonese Rugby & Football Club6-0
1954 Ceylonese Rugby & Football ClubKandy Sports Club21-5
1955 Ceylonese Rugby & Football ClubKandy Sports Club
1956 Ceylonese Rugby & Football ClubDim/Dicks
1957 Colombo Hockey and Football ClubDim/Dicks
1958 Ceylonese Rugby & Football ClubDickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club
1959 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club
drawn game11-11
1960 Colombo Hockey and Football ClubDimbula Athletic & Cricket Club
1961 Havelock Sports ClubDickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club11-9
1962 Colombo Hockey and Football ClubArmy Sports Club6-6 [nb 1]
1963 Havelock Sports Club
1964 Havelock Sports Club
1965 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1966 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1967 Havelock Sports ClubPolice Sports ClubLongdon Place11-3
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 ClubColombo Hockey and Football ClubHavelock Park12-9
1973 Army Sports Club
Police Sports Club
drawn game19-19
1974 Havelock Sports ClubCeylonese Rugby & Football Club16-4
1975 Army Sports ClubArmy Sports Club4-3
1976 Havelock Sports ClubNavy Sports Club15-3
1977 Havelock Sports ClubAir Force Sports Club
1978 Havelock Sports ClubKandy Sports ClubLongdon Place10-4
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 ClubHavelock Sports Club22-16
1986 Air Force Sports ClubPolice Sports Club10-8
1987 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1988 Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
1989 Ceylonese Rugby & Football ClubNavy Sports Club6-3
1990 Colombo Hockey and Football ClubHavelock Sports Club4-0
1991 Police Sports ClubColombo Hockey and Football Club13-11
1992 Kandy Sports ClubPolice Sports ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium22-9
1993 Kandy Sports ClubColombo Hockey and Football ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium18-16
1994 Colombo Hockey and Football ClubCeylonese Rugby & Football ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium15-11
1995 Kandy Sports ClubPolice Sports ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium16-12
1996 Kandy Sports ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium
1997 Kandy Sports ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium
1998 No tournament
1999 Kandy Sports ClubCeylonese Rugby & Football ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium21-18
YearClifford Cup
Cup winnerRunners-upFinal VenueFinal
2000 Kandy Sports ClubArmy Sports ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium39-12
2001 Kandy Sports ClubArmy Sports ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium17-16
2002 Kandy Sports ClubArmy Sports ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium26-19
2003 Kandy Sports ClubColombo Hockey and Football ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium30-22
2004 Kandy Sports ClubHavelock Sports ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium51-20
2005 Kandy Sports ClubColombo Hockey and Football ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium31-6
2006 Ceylonese Rugby & Football ClubHavelock Sports ClubLongdon Place37-05[nb 2]
2007 Kandy Sports ClubCeylonese Rugby & Football ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium16-5
2008 Kandy Sports ClubCeylonese Rugby & Football ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium21-0
2009 Kandy Sports ClubCeylonese Rugby & Football ClubNittawela Rugby Stadium10-6
2010 Kandy Sports ClubNavy Sports ClubBogambara Stadium26-11
2011 Kandy Sports ClubNavy Sports ClubRoyal College Sports Complex17-6
2012 Kandy Sports ClubHavelock Sports ClubBogambara Stadium7-5
2013 No tournament
2014 Navy Sports ClubHavelock Sports ClubColombo Racecourse27-22
2015 Kandy Sports ClubPolice SCNittawella Rugby Stadium77-7
2016 Kandy Sports ClubCeylonese Rugby & Football ClubColombo Racecourse31-28
2017 Kandy Sports ClubHavelock Sports ClubNittawella Rugby Stadium32-20
2018 Kandy Sports ClubNavy Sports ClubLongdon Place21-7
2019 Havelock Sports ClubAir Force Sports ClubColombo Racecourse40-21
2020 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

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]

Club Wins Seasons
Kandy Sports Club211992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club141952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959‡, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2006
Havelock Sports Club141950, 1951, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1970‡, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 2019
Police Sports Club81970‡, 1972, 1973‡, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1991
Colombo Hockey and Football Club71957, 1960, 1962, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1994
Low Country71926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1936
Up Country61927, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1938
Army Sports Club21973‡, 1975
Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club21953, 1959‡
United Services21911, 1913
Air Force Sports Club11986
Navy Sports Club12014
All Ceylon11912
  • ‡ Shared

See also

References

  1. Wijerante, Neil (9 March 2014). "Clifford Cup - The Blue Riband of Sri Lanka Rugby" (PDF). Sunday Leader. p. 20. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  2. Mendis, Richard (18 August 2007). "Clifford Cup". The Island. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  3. de Joodt, Ken (14 August 2013). "Re-capping the Glory Days of Rugby". Ceylon Today. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  4. Marikar, Hafiz (20 August 2011). "Clifford Cup trophy now 100 years". Daily News. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. De Alwis, Sharm. "Looking Back on the Clifford Cup". Sunday Leader. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  6. Marikar, Hafiz (29 July 2010). "When will they lose their Prestige". Daily News. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  7. Marikar, Hafiz (7 September 2011). "Change of Clifford Cup venues". Daily News. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  8. "Kandy or Colombo: a 72-mile long debate". The Sunday Leader. 4 June 2006. 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. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  11. Ramakrishnan, Karuppiah (3 April 2020). "Clifford Cup k/o rugby postponed for next year". The Daily News. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

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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