Sri Lanka, Oct. 26 -- The next Inter-Schools rugby season may be still far away but the authorities and the coaches of the schools have already begun their preparations in what could be another gruelling period for the players and officials.

The focus and the cynosure of all eyes, no doubt, will be on the elite Under-19 League and the Knock-Out Tournament, which has always seen the cream of Sri Lanka's schoolboy ruggerites in action.

The contribution of the old boys of these respective schools have added more weight to the tournament and success on the field is something they would cherish for many years while defeat would be a bitter pill to swallow.

No wonder, the respective team sponsors have continued to back them enormously and th...