As the Dr. R. L. Hayman Trophy has been missing in action since 2019, the water polo game played across two legs between S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and Royal College Colombo has resulted in players losing out on years of experience. With two coloursmen on the Royal side after their 2019 victory and no coloursmen for S. Thomas’, getting into the water, this game is all about pure talent and raw emotion.

The Hayman water polo matches are more commonly known for its name more than people know of water polo itself. With an electrifying atmosphere rivaled like no other game, the Hayman will draw massive crowds to the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool for the 29th encounter which starts today.

The history of the encounter is as legendary as the game can get. The ecstatic rivalry began in 1992 in memory of late Dr. R. L. Hayman, a past Sub Warden of S. Thomas’ College and donor of their swimming pool. The game since then has brought out great feats through those who have played it, including the 5-year undefeated spell for S. Thomas’ from 2013 to 2017. This was after the 5-year undefeated stint of the Royalists from 2005 to 2009 which was also the first time the Hayman trophy resided at Reid Avenue after lying at Mount Lavinia since the inception of this Royal-Thomian encounter. This encounter has evolved over the past encounters, as it is played with international referees to ensure up-to-date rules are enforced, which brings out the highest standards of the game. This level of standard has resulted in both schools producing players who have represented the nation and have brought glory to the country over the past years.

The last game, played in 2019, saw domination from the Royal side with greater control of the ball throughout the two legs, giving Royal an aggregate of a 21-17 victory. This was unlike 2018 where the game came down to the final minutes of the second leg and saw a Royal victory against a powerful Thomian side. This year the very same is expected of both teams going into two legs of the game within the next couple of weeks.

There is nothing short of glory for the victors of Hayman. The tally between the two schools stands 16-9 in favour of S. Thomas’. This year however, the Royalists are all about retaining the trophy and the Thomians are hungry to get it back.

This year’s encounter will commence at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool with the Under 15 age group match beginning at 3:30pm and Under 19 age group match beginning at 5:30 pm. Tickets are available at the gates and pre-sold at Old Thomian Swimming Club (OTSC) and Royal College Swimming Pool. The Thomians are captained by Dirhean Dias at this edition. Royal were yet to announce the name of their captain when this edition was published.

S. Thomas’ Squad

 Dirhean Dias (Captain), Aaqil Zuhair (Vice Captain), Chariya Kurukulasooriya (Secretary), Aidan Tissera, Yumal Bollegala, Seevali Gurusinghe, Migara Gurusinghe, Nithish Perera, Shreshta Anthonisz, Talib Mansoor, Santhush Kalansooriya, Nehemiah Krishnaswamy, Haritha Sugathadasa, Deshan de Mel, Anuk Wijegunaratne.

Royal Squad 

Umindu Katugamapala, Yamith Jayakody, Thilanka Thushan, Lakindu Weerasinghe, Senuda Somakeerthi, Randa Ranathunga, Nadil Basnayaka, Banuka Jayathilaka, Damsara Akmeemana, Minusha Mewan, Thisul Fernando, Dimeetri Liyanage, Mihin Wanigasekara, Lisitha Munasinghe, Yasandu de Silva, Anuk Mahalekam, Anuga Handunpathirana, Vinuda Somakeerthi, Rahul de Silva, Talal Bary, Hithesh Jayawardana.