Trinity College Rugby Stadium

{{Infobox venue

| name = Trinity College Rugby Stadium

| nickname =

| native_name = {{plainlist|

ත්‍රිත්ව විද්‍යාලයීය රග්බි ක්‍රීඩාංගණය
டிரினிட்டி கல்லூரி ரக்பி மைதானம்}}

| native_name_lang =

| fullname =

| former names =

| logo_image =

| logo_caption =

| image =

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_map_caption =

| pushpin_label_position =

| address = Pallekele, Sri Lanka

| location =

| coordinates = {{Coord|7.27907|80.70931|type:landmark_region:LK|display=inline,title|format=dms}}

| mapframe-zoom = 13

| mapframe-marker = stadium

| type = Stadium

| genre = Rugby and football

| broke_ground = {{Start date and age|1993|10|31|df=y}}

| built =

| opened = {{Start date and age|1997|05|03|df=y}}

| renovated =

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = Trinity College

| operator = Trinity College

| surface = Grass

| scoreboard =

| production =

| cost =

| architect =

| project_manager =

| structural engineer =

| services engineer =

| general_contractor =

| main_contractors =

| seating_type =

| capacity =

| suites =

| record_attendance =

| dimensions =

| field_shape =

| acreage =

| volume =

| tenants = {{plain list|

Trinity College Rugby
Trinity College Football}}

| embedded =

| website = {{URL|https://trinitycollege.lk}}

| publictransit =

}}

Trinity College Rugby Stadium is the rugby and football ground of Trinity College, Kandy. It is located in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, a suburb of Kandy.

History

Before the construction of the Trinity College Rugby Stadium (TCRS), Trinity College played its home rugby fixtures at Bogambara Stadium, Nittawela Rugby Stadium, or occasionally at the University Rugby Football Ground in Peradeniya. Rugby practices, training matches, and inter-house competitions were held at Asgiriya Stadium, a venue owned by Trinity College.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/365dgs/docs/bradby_shield_book |title=Behind the Shield – The history, the heroes, the hearts of 75 years: 1945–2019 |publisher= |last= |first= |date=20 August 2019 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822081434/https://issuu.com/365dgs/docs/bradby_shield_book |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://quadrangle.lk/back-mane-game/ |title=Back in the mane game |publisher=Quadrangle |last= |first= |date=18 April 2017 |accessdate= 22 August 2024 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402052924/https://quadrangle.lk/back-mane-game/ |url-status=dead}}

Given Asgiriya's status as a Test cricket venue, continued rugby use was deemed unsuitable. Due to Kandy's limited number of suitable sporting venues, Trinity College sought an alternative location to establish a rugby venue near the city. This endeavour was successful when President D. B. Wijetunga, through the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and with cabinet approval, granted the school a {{cvt|4|ha}} land extent in Pallekele, about {{cvt|12|km}} away from Kandy, on a 99-year lease for the construction of a rugby stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/100725/Plus/plus_12.html |title=A salute from one old Trinitian to another |publisher=The Sunday Times |last=Ratnayake |first=Ranjit |date=25 July 2010 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821144447/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/100725/Plus/plus_12.html |url-status=live}}

Construction of the TCRS began in February 1994, following an inaugural walk from the school to the Pallekele land on 31 October 1993, led by principal, L. M. De Alwis. Another walk from the school to the stadium under construction took place on 18 January 1997, coinciding with Trinity's 125th anniversary celebrations.

The inaugural inter-school rugby match at TCRS was contested between Trinity and Vidyartha College, Kandy, on 3 May 1997, with Trinity's 1st XV emerging victorious 31–7. The first Bradby Shield match hosted at TCRS was on 21 June 1997, when Trinity faced Royal College, Colombo, in the first leg of the 53rd encounter. Trinity won 14–6.{{cite web|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/970615/sportm.html#LABEL6 |title=Learn, depart or look to the end |publisher=The Sunday Times |last=Jayasekara |first=Bandula |date=15 June 1997 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821133426/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/970615/sportm.html#LABEL6 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/970622/sports2.html |title=Bradby Shield rugby – Trinity get slim lead in 1st leg |publisher=The Sunday Times |last=Seneviratne |first=Shane |date=22 June 1997 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821074846/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/970622/sports2.html |url-status=live}}

Since 1997, Trinity College has hosted nearly all of its home matches from the schools rugby league at TCRS. Due to ongoing construction and facility improvements, Bradby Shield matches were held intermittently at Pallekele until 2012. Since then, Trinity has consistently hosted the Kandy leg of the Bradby Shield at TCRS.{{cite web|url=https://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/09/23/spo10.asp |title=Hemaka Amarasuriya – an amiable sports celebrity |work=Daily News |last=De Joodt |first=Ken |date=23 September 2006 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821144550/https://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/09/23/spo10.asp |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2015/05/03/spo01.asp |title=Bradby' time at Pallekele |publisher=Sunday Observer |last=Marikar |first=Hafiz |date=3 May 2015 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822091626/https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2015/05/03/spo01.asp |url-status=live}}

Other uses

TCRS serves as a venue for Trinity College inter-house rugby and football matches, as well as inter-school football matches.{{cite web|url=https://trinitycollege.lk/2022/02/25/inter-house-rivalry-kicks-off-at-pallekele-senior-inter-house-rugby-tournament-2022/ |title=Inter-House Rivalry Kicks off at Pallekele – Senior Inter-House Rugby Tournament 2022 |publisher=Trinity College |date=25 February 2022 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822113917/https://trinitycollege.lk/2022/02/25/inter-house-rivalry-kicks-off-at-pallekele-senior-inter-house-rugby-tournament-2022/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://trinitycollege.lk/2020/03/12/inter-house-football-encounter-2020/ |title=Inter-House Football Encounter 2020 |publisher=Trinity College |date=12 March 2020 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822114148/https://trinitycollege.lk/2020/03/12/inter-house-football-encounter-2020/ |url-status=live}} Occasionally, TCRS has been utilised by Sri Lanka Rugby, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka,{{cite web|url= https://www.dailymirror.lk/sports/All-Island-Under-16-10-a-side-rugby-kicks-off-tomorrow/322-268227 |title=All Island Under 16 10-a-side rugby kicks off tomorrow |publisher=Daily Mirror |date=29 September 2023 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240822093418/https://www.dailymirror.lk/sports/All-Island-Under-16-10-a-side-rugby-kicks-off-tomorrow/322-268227 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url= https://trinitycollege.lk/2022/12/16/trinity-under-20-football-team-emerge-group-champions-in-the-sri-lanka-schools-football-federation-tournament-2022/ |title= Trinity Under 20 Football team emerge group champions in the Sri Lanka Schools' Football Federation Tournament 2022 |publisher=Trinity College |date=16 December 2022 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240822090101/https://trinitycollege.lk/2022/12/16/trinity-under-20-football-team-emerge-group-champions-in-the-sri-lanka-schools-football-federation-tournament-2022/ |url-status=live}} and other schools from Kandy to host sporting events or tournaments.{{cite web|url= https://www.ft.lk/Sports/Netball-and-football-at-Pallekele-today/23-695151 |title= Netball and football at Pallekele today |publisher=Daily FT |date=6 February 2020 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240822085720/https://www.ft.lk/Sports/Netball-and-football-at-Pallekele-today/23-695151 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thepapare.com/dialog-schools-rugby-league-2023-s-thomas-college-vs-st-anthonys-college-report/ |title=Pallekele Erupts as The Eagles Secure Super Round Spot |publisher=ThePapre |last=Dhananjan |first=Kevin |date=30 July 2023 |accessdate=22 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822112731/https://www.thepapare.com/dialog-schools-rugby-league-2023-s-thomas-college-vs-st-anthonys-college-report/ |url-status=live}}