# Bradby Shield Encounter

The Bradby Shield Encounter, colloquially referred to as The Bradby, is an event within Sri Lanka's school rugby union season. This annual fixture takes place between two renowned boys’ schools in the country, namely Royal College, Colombo, and Trinity College, Kandy. The encounter involves two legs, with one currently held at the Royal College Sports Complex in Colombo and the other at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium in Pallekele. The winner of the competition is determined based on the aggregate of scores from both matches, typically played a couple of weeks apart.
This rugby fixture garners significant attention from spectators across the country. It is considered the most widely viewed rugby match in Sri Lanka, drawing larger crowds than both inter-club and international fixtures. This important event serves as a social gathering for the current and past pupils, their families, extended families and well-wishers with near-capacity attendance at venues and a significant viewership for the live broadcasts, both domestically and internationally.

## History

Royal College and Trinity College, two distinguished institutions of Sri Lanka, were among the pioneers to embrace the game of rugby union, with their maiden match held on the 31 July 1920 (104 years ago) (1920-07-31), marking a historic milestone. Subsequently, this encounter evolved into a yearly tradition, where Trinity College maintained an unbeaten streak for the first two decades, until their first defeat to Royal College in 1941. Notably, in 1945, Mr. E. L. Bradby, the Principal of Royal College, extended an offer to Mr. C. E. Simithraaratchy, the Principal of Trinity College, proposing the donation of a coveted Shield. Mr Simithraaratchy accepted this proposal. The Shield was to be contested annually, with the victor being the college that achieved the highest total score over the two-leg series, one leg played in Colombo and the other in Kandy, as initiated in 1943.
This annual event has persevered through the years, with the exception of the year 1971, where only the first leg was played due to the 1971 JVP insurrection. The Shield was presented to Royal College, the victors of the first leg. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the event in both 2020 and 2021, marking the only other time in which this event could not take place.

## The Shield

The Shield, a product of Kandyan silversmiths, was bestowed upon the series by Principal E.L. Bradby before his departure from Ceylon in 1945. A wooden disk of exquisite design, it is embellished with intricate, traditional Kandyan silverwork, serving as a symbol of victory and an enduring testament to this encounter.
Following the conclusion of the second leg of the series, the Shield is ceremoniously presented to the captain of the triumphant team in an award ceremony conducted on the playing field. The winning team is then afforded the privilege of retaining possession of the trophy until the following year's contest.

## Venue

The Bradby Shield encounter is generally played in two legs, one in Colombo and the other in Kandy. Historically, the Colombo match was played at Longden Place, and since 1987, at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Matches were relocated to the Royal College Sports Complex in 2002, where they have been hosted ever since. Meanwhile, the Kandy leg of the tournament was held at the Bogambara Stadium or at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium. Since 2012, this event has been contested at Trinity College's home ground, Trinity College Rugby Stadium in Pallekele.

### Locations and key abbreviations

    As of 7 September 2024
Venues: 1920–present :
| No. | Venue | Location | First match | Abbreviated as | Coordinates |
| 1 | University of Colombo Grounds | Colombo | 31 July 1920 | Thurstan Road | 6°54′10″N 79°51′53″E﻿ / ﻿6.90274°N 79.86474°E﻿ / 6.90274; 79.86474 |
| 2 | Bogambara Stadium | Kandy | 4 August 1922 | Bogambara | 7°17′20″N 80°38′08″E﻿ / ﻿7.28900°N 80.63543°E﻿ / 7.28900; 80.63543 |
| 3 | Royal College Sports Complex | Colombo | 28 July 1923 | Reid Avenue (1923–1949) RCSC (since 2012) | 6°54′10″N 79°51′53″E﻿ / ﻿6.90274°N 79.86474°E﻿ / 6.90274; 79.86474 |
| 4 | CR & FC Grounds | Colombo | 25 July 1931 | Longden Place | 6°54′02″N 79°52′15″E﻿ / ﻿6.90042°N 79.87093°E﻿ / 6.90042; 79.87093 |
| 5 | Police Park | Colombo | 11 July 1943 | Police Park | 6°53′39″N 79°51′45″E﻿ / ﻿6.89414°N 79.86258°E﻿ / 6.89414; 79.86258 |
| 6 | Colombo Racecourse | Colombo | 13 July 1945 | Racecourse | 6°54′18″N 79°51′50″E﻿ / ﻿6.90504°N 79.86391°E﻿ / 6.90504; 79.86391 |
| 7 | Nittawela Rugby Stadium | Kandy | 26 July 1958 | Nittawela | 7°18′59″N 80°38′04″E﻿ / ﻿7.31644°N 80.63432°E﻿ / 7.31644; 80.63432 |
| 8 | Havelock Park | Colombo | 2 July 1960 | Havelock Park | 6°53′14″N 79°52′00″E﻿ / ﻿6.88724°N 79.86674°E﻿ / 6.88724; 79.86674 |
| 9 | University Rugby Football Grounds | Peradeniya | 16 July 1960 | Peradeniya | 7°15′30″N 80°35′45″E﻿ / ﻿7.25829°N 80.59582°E﻿ / 7.25829; 80.59582 |
| 10 | CH & FC Grounds | Colombo | 21 July 1973 | Maitland Crescent | 6°54′28″N 79°51′57″E﻿ / ﻿6.90779°N 79.86587°E﻿ / 6.90779; 79.86587 |
| 11 | Sugathadasa Stadium | Colombo | 18 July 1987 | Sugathadasa | 6°56′53″N 79°52′08″E﻿ / ﻿6.94804°N 79.86883°E﻿ / 6.94804; 79.86883 |
| 12 | Trinity College Rugby Stadium | Pallekele | 21 June 1997 | TCRS | 7°16′45″N 80°42′34″E﻿ / ﻿7.27907°N 80.70931°E﻿ / 7.27907; 80.70931 |

## Royal vs. Trinity rugby matches: 1920–1944
### Results

    As of 21 July 1944
1920–1944 :
| Match | Year | Captains | Captains | Date | Venue | Score | Score | Winner |
| Match | Year | Royal | Trinity | Date | Venue | Royal | Trinity | Winner |
| 1 | 1920 | C. G. A. Perera | H. Ellis | 31 July | Thurstan Road | 0 | 26 | Trinity |
| - | 1921 | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played |
| 2 | 1922 | G. H. Senarathne | A. P. Maralande | 4 August | Bogambara | 0 | 34 | Trinity (2) |
| 3 | 1923 | W. P. L. Abeyratne | P. A. Buultjens | 28 July | Reid Avenue | 0 | 17 | Trinity (3) |
| 4 | 1924 | J. R. Jayewardene | P.A. Buultjens | 1 August | Bogambara | 3 | 37 | Trinity (4) |
| 5 | 1925 | D. W. L. Lieversz (Snr.) | A. N. Myanga | 18 July | Thurstan Road | 0 | 46 | Trinity (5) |
| - | 1926 | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played |
| - | 1927 | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played |
| 6 | 1928 | H. S. Roberts | M. Khin Maung | 4 August | Reid Avenue | 6 | 23 | Trinity (6) |
| - | 1929 | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played |
| 7 | 1930 | R. C. W. Paulusz | J. Duncan | 5 August | Bogambara | 0 | 29 | Trinity (7) |
| 8 | 1931 | G. A. K Rockwood | J. Duncan | 25 July | Longden Place | 0 | 27 | Trinity (8) |
| 9 | 1932 | S. A. Dissanyake | S. Ratwatte | 30 July | Bogambara | 0 | 9 | Trinity (9) |
| 10 | 1933 | M. S. Ahamath | E. W. A. Buultjens | 15 July | Reid Avenue | 0 | 19 | Trinity (10) |
| - | 1934 | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played |
| 11 | 1935 | W. B. V. Thiedeman | R. Breckenridge | 13 July | Reid Avenue | 0 | 19 | Trinity (11) |
| 12 | 1936 | C. de S. Illesinghe | O. L. Izzadeen | 11 July | Bogambara | 3 | 11 | Trinity (12) |
| 13 | 1937 | E. I. Grey | O. L. Izzadeen | 17 July | Reid Avenue | 0 | 16 | Trinity (13) |
| 14 | 1938 | R. H. Aldons | W. Molegoda | 25 June | Bogambara | 13 | 14 | Trinity (14) |
| 15 | 1939 | S. E. Toussaint | V. K. Vellayan | 29 July | Reid Avenue | 3 | 14 | Trinity (15) |
| 16 | 1940 | R. Kadiragamar | S. B. Dissanayake | 20 July | Bogambara | 3 | 9 | Trinity (16) |
| 17 | 1941 | M. N. Jilla | S. B. Dissanayake | 12 July | Reid Avenue | 11 | 3 | Royal |
| 18 | 1942 | A. R. Demmer | W. Jenkins | 25 July | Reid Avenue | 0 | 22 | Trinity (17) |
| 19 | 1943 | C. O. Foenander | W. Jenkins | 11 July | Police Park | 6 | 0 | Royal (2) |
| 20 | 1943 | S. Navaratnam | W. Jenkins | 24 July | Bogambara | 5 | 3 | Royal (3) |
| 21 | 1944 | N. Vancuylenberg | M. G. Wright | 7 July | Thurstan Road | 0 | 15 | Trinity (18) |
| 22 | 1944 | N. Vancuylenberg | M. G. Wright | 21 July | Bogambara | 0 | 17 | Trinity (19) |

### Statistics

    As of 21 July 1944
Match statistics :
| Venue | Played | Won by | Won by | Drawn | Total points | Total points |
| Venue | Played | Royal | Trinity | Drawn | Royal | Trinity |
| Colombo | 13 | 2 | 11 | – | 26 | 247 |
| Kandy | 9 | 1 | 8 | – | 27 | 163 |
| Overall | 22 | 3 | 19 | – | 53 | 410 |

## Bradby Shield series: 1945–present
### Results

    As of 7 September 2024
1945–present :
| Series | Year | Captains | Captains | Date | Venue | Score | Score | Winner |
| Series | Year | Royal | Trinity | Date | Venue | Royal | Trinity | Winner |
| 1 | 1945 | C. D. L. Fernando | R. G. Sourjah (1L) S. B. Pilapitiya (2L) | 13 July | Racecourse | 3 | 0 | Trinity |
| 1 | 1945 | C. D. L. Fernando | R. G. Sourjah (1L) S. B. Pilapitiya (2L) | 20 July | Bogambara | 0 | 6 | Trinity |
| 2 | 1946 | M. Rodrigo | S. B. Pilapitiya | 6 July | Police Park | 3 | 0 | Trinity (2) |
| 2 | 1946 | M. Rodrigo | S. B. Pilapitiya | 20 July | Bogambara | 0 | 8 | Trinity (2) |
| 3 | 1947 | N. W. Karunaratne | G. Sanmugam | 12 July | Bogambara | 0 | 6 | Trinity (3) |
| 3 | 1947 | N. W. Karunaratne | G. Sanmugam | 9 August | Police Park | 0 | 0 | Trinity (3) |
| 4 | 1948 | A. A. Cader | A. R. A. Mohomed | 3 July | Police Park | 6 | 3 | Royal |
| 4 | 1948 | A. A. Cader | A. R. A. Mohomed | 17 July | Bogambara | 8 | 6 | Royal |
| 5 | 1949 | G. C. Weinman | K. Arumugam | 3 July | Reid Avenue | 5 | 3 | Royal (2) |
| 5 | 1949 | G. C. Weinman | K. Arumugam | 16 July | Bogambara | 8 | 3 | Royal (2) |
| 6 | 1950 | T. St. C. Anghie | S. S. Bambaradeniya | 8 June | Bogambara | 0 | 6 | Trinity (4) |
| 6 | 1950 | T. St. C. Anghie | S. S. Bambaradeniya | 24 July | Racecourse | 3 | 5 | Trinity (4) |
| 7 | 1951 | H. E. Wijesinghe | M. S. Panditharatne | 4 July | Longden Place | 19 | 3 | Royal (3) |
| 7 | 1951 | H. E. Wijesinghe | M. S. Panditharatne | 21 July | Bogambara | 13 | 5 | Royal (3) |
| 8 | 1952 | A. B. Van Twest | M. S. Panditharatne | 5 July | Police Park | 0 | 6 | Trinity (5) |
| 8 | 1952 | A. B. Van Twest | M. S. Panditharatne | 19 July | Bogambara | 0 | 12 | Trinity (5) |
| 9 | 1953 | T. S. Almeida (1L) T. L. K. Mendis (2L) | D. Madugalle | 4 July | Bogambara | 0 | 13 | Trinity (6) |
| 9 | 1953 | T. S. Almeida (1L) T. L. K. Mendis (2L) | D. Madugalle | 22 July | Longden Place | 0 | 3 | Trinity (6) |
| 10 | 1954 | K. W. W. Edwards | L. L. Vitharana | 10 July | Longden Place | 0 | 5 | Trinity (7) |
| 10 | 1954 | K. W. W. Edwards | L. L. Vitharana | 24 July | Bogambara | 5 | 6 | Trinity (7) |
| 11 | 1955 | C. V. Gunaratne | M. G. Ratwatte | 11 July | Bogambara | 0 | 6 | Trinity (8) |
| 11 | 1955 | C. V. Gunaratne | M. G. Ratwatte | 20 July | Longden Place | 0 | 0 | Trinity (8) |
| 12 | 1956 | T. L. Almeida | D. N. Frank | 4 July | Racecourse | 0 | 15 | Trinity (9) |
| 12 | 1956 | T. L. Almeida | D. N. Frank | 28 July | Bogambara | 0 | 11 | Trinity (9) |
| 13 | 1957 | R. Sivaratnam | K. B. de Joedt | 6 July | Bogambara | 0 | 8 | Trinity (10) |
| 13 | 1957 | R. Sivaratnam | K. B. de Joedt | 19 July | Longden Place | 8 | 9 | Trinity (10) |
| 14 | 1958 | D. N. Fernando | K. B. de Joedt | 12 July | Longden Place | 6 | 0 | Royal (4) |
| 14 | 1958 | D. N. Fernando | K. B. de Joedt | 26 July | Nittawela | 0 | 0 | Royal (4) |
| 15 | 1959 | M. L. Anghie | D. L. Kobbekaduwa | 4 July | Bogambara | 5 | 0 | Royal (5) |
| 15 | 1959 | M. L. Anghie | D. L. Kobbekaduwa | 18 July | Longden Place | 6 | 0 | Royal (5) |
| 16 | 1960 | H. S. de Silva | E. D. K. Roles | 2 July | Havelock Park | 3 | 5 | Trinity (11) |
| 16 | 1960 | H. S. de Silva | E. D. K. Roles | 16 July | Peradeniya | 0 | 8 | Trinity (11) |
| 17 | 1961 | J. V. P. Samarasekara | J. W. Jayawardena | 1 July | Bogambara | 6 | 3 | Royal (6) |
| 17 | 1961 | J. V. P. Samarasekara | J. W. Jayawardena | 15 July | Longden Place | 8 | 0 | Royal (6) |
| 18 | 1962 | U. L. Kaluaratchi | N. T. E. Brohier | 14 July | Longden Place | 5 | 0 | Trinity (12) |
| 18 | 1962 | U. L. Kaluaratchi | N. T. E. Brohier | 28 July | Bogambara | 0 | 9 | Trinity (12) |
| 19 | 1963 | M. Jayakumar | B. D. A. Piyasena | 11 July | Bogambara | 6 | 6 | Trinity (13) |
| 19 | 1963 | M. Jayakumar | B. D. A. Piyasena | 27 July | Longden Place | 3 | 5 | Trinity (13) |
| 20 | 1964 | K. D. T. Paul | M. T. Sahayam | 11 July | Longden Place | 3 | 0 | Royal (7) |
| 20 | 1964 | K. D. T. Paul | M. T. Sahayam | 25 July | Nittawela | 14 | 6 | Royal (7) |
| 21 | 1965 | U. P. Wickramasinghe | M. T. M. Zarook | 10 July | Nittawela | 8 | 3 | Royal (8) |
| 21 | 1965 | U. P. Wickramasinghe | M. T. M. Zarook | 24 July | Longden Place | 3 | 3 | Royal (8) |
| 22 | 1966 | I. R. Thurairatnam | E. G. Van Langenberg | 9 July | Longden Place | 3 | 3 | Trinity (14) |
| 22 | 1966 | I. R. Thurairatnam | E. G. Van Langenberg | 23 July | Bogambara | 3 | 8 | Trinity (14) |
| 23 | 1967 | D. J. Perera (1L) N. B. L. Lieversz (2L) | A. L. Abeyratne | 4 July | Peradeniya | 3 | 17 | Trinity (15) |
| 23 | 1967 | D. J. Perera (1L) N. B. L. Lieversz (2L) | A. L. Abeyratne | 20 July | Longden Place | 3 | 16 | Trinity (15) |
| 24 | 1968 | C. R. de Silva | A. L. Abeyratne | 9 July | Longden Place | 19 | 0 | Royal (9) |
| 24 | 1968 | C. R. de Silva | A. L. Abeyratne | 24 July | Peradeniya | 5 | 3 | Royal (9) |
| 25 | 1969 | M. H. C. Malwatte | M. S. Jainudeen | 5 July | Peradeniya | 0 | 8 | Trinity (16) |
| 25 | 1969 | M. H. C. Malwatte | M. S. Jainudeen | 18 July | Longden Place | 3 | 9 | Trinity (16) |
| 26 | 1970 | C. J. Fernando | S. P. Samarasekara | 4 July | Longden Place | 3 | 19 | Trinity (17) |
| 26 | 1970 | C. J. Fernando | S. P. Samarasekara | 21 July | Nittawela | 12 | 16 | Trinity (17) |
| 27 | 1971 | F. R. Perera | Y. S. Ping | 29 July | Longden Place | 22 | 3 | Royal (10) |
| Royal (10) ||||
| 28 | 1972 | G. D. S. Gunasekara | A. E. Unantenne | 1 July | Longden Place | 9 | 8 | Trinity (18) |
| 28 | 1972 | G. D. S. Gunasekara | A. E. Unantenne | 15 July | Nittawela | 3 | 10 | Trinity (18) |
| 29 | 1973 | M. G. Muller | J. K. Yu | 9 July | Nittawela | 18 | 4 | Royal (11) |
| 29 | 1973 | M. G. Muller | J. K. Yu | 21 July | Maitland Crescent | 4 | 12 | Royal (11) |
| 30 | 1974 | M. B. Akbar | C. Y. Ching | 6 July | Longden Place | 3 | 18 | Trinity (19) |
| 30 | 1974 | M. B. Akbar | C. Y. Ching | 20 July | Nittawela | 9 | 12 | Trinity (19) |
| 31 | 1975 | H. A. I. Hassen | M. R. Sourjah | 12 July | Nittawela | 13 | 11 | Royal (12) |
| 31 | 1975 | H. A. I. Hassen | M. R. Sourjah | 19 July | Longden Place | 21 | 3 | Royal (12) |
| 32 | 1976 | M. Weerakumar | S. V. Ranasinghe | 3 July | Longden Place | 36 | 0 | Royal (13) |
| 32 | 1976 | M. Weerakumar | S. V. Ranasinghe | 17 July | Bogambara | 25 | 6 | Royal (13) |
| 33 | 1977 | S. S. Hashim | R. N. Balasuriya | 2 July | Bogambara | 6 | 12 | Trinity (20) |
| 33 | 1977 | S. S. Hashim | R. N. Balasuriya | 16 July | Longden Place | 4 | 10 | Trinity (20) |
| 34 | 1978 | K. R. T. Peiris | J. R. Kiridena | 3 July | Longden Place | 0 | 0 | Royal (14) |
| 34 | 1978 | K. R. T. Peiris | J. R. Kiridena | 15 July | Bogambara | 8 | 4 | Royal (14) |
| 35 | 1979 | R. P. Gunasekara | J. V. Tissera | 7 July | Bogambara | 3 | 4 | Royal (15) |
| 35 | 1979 | R. P. Gunasekara | J. V. Tissera | 21 July | Longden Place | 18 | 0 | Royal (15) |
| 36 | 1980 | S. Sujanthakumar | T. B. Ellepola | 5 July | Longden Place | 7 | 3 | Royal (16) |
| 36 | 1980 | S. Sujanthakumar | T. B. Ellepola | 19 July | Nittawela | 16 | 3 | Royal (16) |
| 37 | 1981 | N. S. Cooray | R. Bandaranayake | 4 July | Nittawela | 3 | 16 | Trinity (21) |
| 37 | 1981 | N. S. Cooray | R. Bandaranayake | 18 July | Longden Place | 10 | 3 | Trinity (21) |
| 38 | 1982 | H. Muttiah | B. S. J. Fernando | 3 July | Longden Place | 6 | 9 | Trinity (22) |
| 38 | 1982 | H. Muttiah | B. S. J. Fernando | 17 July | Nittawela | 4 | 6 | Trinity (22) |
| 39 | 1983 | S. Cooray | A. D. Ratwatte | 2 July | Bogambara | 6 | 14 | Trinity (23) |
| 39 | 1983 | S. Cooray | A. D. Ratwatte | 16 July | Longden Place | 10 | 6 | Trinity (23) |
| 40 | 1984 | S. Agalawatte | D. M. Wijesinghe | 7 July | Longden Place | 6 | 3 | Royal (17) |
| 40 | 1984 | S. Agalawatte | D. M. Wijesinghe | 21 July | Bogambara | 0 | 0 | Royal (17) |
| 41 | 1985 | C. Nanayakkara | M. Jayatissa | 6 July | Bogambara | 9 | 18 | Trinity (24) |
| 41 | 1985 | C. Nanayakkara | M. Jayatissa | 20 July | Longden Place | 4 | 3 | Trinity (24) |
| 42 | 1986 | M. J. Peiris | S. N. Gunaratne | 5 July | Longden Place | 3 | 6 | Trinity (25) |
| 42 | 1986 | M. J. Peiris | S. N. Gunaratne | 19 July | Bogambara | 3 | 9 | Trinity (25) |
| 43 | 1987 | H. A. S. Madanayake (1L) R. de Z. Gunarathne (2L) | T. Rajapakse | 2 July | Bogambara | 3 | 7 | Trinity (26) |
| 43 | 1987 | H. A. S. Madanayake (1L) R. de Z. Gunarathne (2L) | T. Rajapakse | 18 July | Sugathadasa | 3 | 19 | Trinity (26) |
| 44 | 1988 | L. W. de Z. Gunarathne | B. Dandeniya | 2 July | Sugathadasa | 24 | 0 | Royal (18) |
| 44 | 1988 | L. W. de Z. Gunarathne | B. Dandeniya | 16 July | Bogambara | 13 | 0 | Royal (18) |
| 45 | 1989 | J. H. A. Dhammika | R. Ranaraja | 5 August | Bogambara | 9 | 6 | Royal (19) |
| 45 | 1989 | J. H. A. Dhammika | R. Ranaraja | 14 August | Sugathadasa | 9 | 8 | Royal (19) |
| 46 | 1990 | R. Jayasuriya | W. D. S. Premaratne (1L) R. Kalpage (2L) | 6 July | Sugathadasa | 23 | 8 | Royal (20) |
| 46 | 1990 | R. Jayasuriya | W. D. S. Premaratne (1L) R. Kalpage (2L) | 21 July | Bogambara | 0 | 6 | Royal (20) |
| 47 | 1991 | M. Dahanayake | M. A. Deen | 6 July | Bogambara | 4 | 12 | Trinity (27) |
| 47 | 1991 | M. Dahanayake | M. A. Deen | 20 July | Sugathadasa | 10 | 25 | Trinity (27) |
| 48 | 1992 | H. Wijesinghe | H. M. Goonetileke | 4 July | Sugathadasa | 3 | 3 | Draw |
| 48 | 1992 | H. Wijesinghe | H. M. Goonetileke | 19 July | Nittawela | 0 | 0 | Draw |
| 49 | 1993 | C. R. A. Abeysuriya | N. Muhandiramge | 26 June | Nittawela | 3 | 0 | Royal (21) |
| 49 | 1993 | C. R. A. Abeysuriya | N. Muhandiramge | 10 July | Sugathadasa | 10 | 3 | Royal (21) |
| 50 | 1994 | R. Malalasekara | A. M. Rally | 18 June | Sugathadasa | 10 | 3 | Royal (22) |
| 50 | 1994 | R. Malalasekara | A. M. Rally | 2 July | Nittawela | 8 | 8 | Royal (22) |
| 51 | 1995 | A. Assen | M. A. H. Omar | 17 June | Nittawela | 3 | 6 | Trinity (28) |
| 51 | 1995 | A. Assen | M. A. H. Omar | 1 July | Sugathadasa | 6 | 22 | Trinity (28) |
| 52 | 1996 | R. Gunatilake | S. Amarasinghe | 22 June | Sugathadasa | 3 | 30 | Trinity (29) |
| 52 | 1996 | R. Gunatilake | S. Amarasinghe | 6 July | Nittawela | 3 | 12 | Trinity (29) |
| 53 | 1997 | A. Yusuf | N. S. Fernando | 21 June | TCRS | 6 | 14 | Trinity (30) |
| 53 | 1997 | A. Yusuf | N. S. Fernando | 5 July | Sugathadasa | 18 | 11 | Trinity (30) |
| 54 | 1998 | W. S. S. R. Perera | P. Jayawardena | 20 June | Sugathadasa | 18 | 20 | Royal (23) |
| 54 | 1998 | W. S. S. R. Perera | P. Jayawardena | 4 July | Bogambara | 42 | 11 | Royal (23) |
| 55 | 1999 | D. R. Rahim | R. Wickramasiri | 19 June | Bogambara | 10 | 19 | Trinity (31) |
| 55 | 1999 | D. R. Rahim | R. Wickramasiri | 3 July | Sugathadasa | 7 | 13 | Trinity (31) |
| 56 | 2000 | S. Perera | H. A. Luchow | 17 June | Sugathadasa | 25 | 32 | Trinity (32) |
| 56 | 2000 | S. Perera | H. A. Luchow | 1 July | Bogambara | 20 | 17 | Trinity (32) |
| 57 | 2001 | H. Kaluaratchi | T. Jayawardena | 23 June | Bogambara | 12 | 6 | Royal (24) |
| 57 | 2001 | H. Kaluaratchi | T. Jayawardena | 7 July | Sugathadasa | 16 | 0 | Royal (24) |
| 58 | 2002 | Z. Hamid | N. S. A. Mendis | 13 July | RCSC | 39 | 0 | Royal (25) |
| 58 | 2002 | Z. Hamid | N. S. A. Mendis | 27 July | Bogambara | 44 | 0 | Royal (25) |
| 59 | 2003 | R. Jayasundara | M. Maddumapatabendi | 19 July | Bogambara | 13 | 11 | Royal (26) |
| 59 | 2003 | R. Jayasundara | M. Maddumapatabendi | 2 August | RCSC | 13 | 8 | Royal (26) |
| 60 | 2004 | A. L. Dissanayake | D. Senarath | 7 August | RCSC | 41 | 6 | Royal (27) |
| 60 | 2004 | A. L. Dissanayake | D. Senarath | 21 August | Bogambara | 10 | 0 | Royal (27) |
| 61 | 2005 | V. Wijewardene | B. N. R. Fernando | 10 September | Bogambara | 6 | 36 | Trinity (33) |
| 61 | 2005 | V. Wijewardene | B. N. R. Fernando | 24 September | RCSC | 7 | 33 | Trinity (33) |
| 62 | 2006 | C. S. Gamage | I. Maddumapatabendi | 9 September | RCSC | 10 | 21 | Trinity (34) |
| 62 | 2006 | C. S. Gamage | I. Maddumapatabendi | 23 September | TCRS | 5 | 26 | Trinity (34) |
| 63 | 2007 | M. Abeyratne | M. Wickramasiri (1L) S. Wanigasekara (2L) | 9 June | Bogambara | 20 | 12 | Royal (28) |
| 63 | 2007 | M. Abeyratne | M. Wickramasiri (1L) S. Wanigasekara (2L) | 23 June | RCSC | 15 | 11 | Royal (28) |
| 64 | 2008 | S. Lenaduwa | M. N. Gunawardena | 14 June | RCSC | 12 | 24 | Trinity (35) |
| 64 | 2008 | S. Lenaduwa | M. N. Gunawardena | 28 June | TCRS | 8 | 0 | Trinity (35) |
| 65 | 2009 | N. Dhason | V. Wijesinghe | 30 May | TCRS | 22 | 12 | Royal (29) |
| 65 | 2009 | N. Dhason | V. Wijesinghe | 13 June | RCSC | 31 | 15 | Royal (29) |
| 66 | 2010 | D. Attygalle | D. Dissanayake | 12 May | RCSC | 38 | 37 | Royal (30) |
| 66 | 2010 | D. Attygalle | D. Dissanayake | 26 May | Bogambara | 34 | 17 | Royal (30) |
| 67 | 2011 | S. Pathirana | M. Ramzeen | 28 May | Bogambara | 33 | 25 | Trinity (36) |
| 67 | 2011 | S. Pathirana | M. Ramzeen | 11 June | RCSC | 5 | 40 | Trinity (36) |
| 68 | 2012 | A. Jamaldeen | K. Seneviratne | 16 June | RCSC | 11 | 34 | Trinity (37) |
| 68 | 2012 | A. Jamaldeen | K. Seneviratne | 30 June | TCRS | 20 | 36 | Trinity (37) |
| 69 | 2013 | R. Jamaldeen | S. Singalaxana (1L) H. Wadood (2L) | 1 June | TCRS | 25 | 37 | Trinity (38) |
| 69 | 2013 | R. Jamaldeen | S. Singalaxana (1L) H. Wadood (2L) | 15 June | RCSC | 13 | 9 | Trinity (38) |
| 70 | 2014 | N. Jayawardena | T. Ratwatte | 10 May | RCSC | 16 | 28 | Trinity (39) |
| 70 | 2014 | N. Jayawardena | T. Ratwatte | 24 May | TCRS | 18 | 19 | Trinity (39) |
| 71 | 2015 | B. Gamage | I. Rangala | 9 May | TCRS | 23 | 22 | Royal (31) |
| 71 | 2015 | B. Gamage | I. Rangala | 24 May | RCSC | 49 | 0 | Royal (31) |
| 72 | 2016 | N. Gunadheera | R. Karunanayake | 30 April | RCSC | 22 | 17 | Draw (2) |
| 72 | 2016 | N. Gunadheera | R. Karunanayake | 14 May | TCRS | 13 | 18 | Draw (2) |
| 73 | 2017 | O. Askey | N. Yee | 20 May | TCRS | 22 | 17 | Royal (32) |
| 73 | 2017 | O. Askey | N. Yee | 3 June | RCSC | 13 | 8 | Royal (32) |
| 74 | 2018 | S. Feroze | A. Shiek | 21 April | RCSC | 39 | 7 | Royal (33) |
| 74 | 2018 | S. Feroze | A. Shiek | 5 May | TCRS | 27 | 19 | Royal (33) |
| 75 | 2019 | T. Hassen | R. Bandaranayake | 1 June | TCRS | 34 | 17 | Royal (34) |
| 75 | 2019 | T. Hassen | R. Bandaranayake | 15 June | RCSC | 13 | 24 | Royal (34) |
| – | 2020 | Not played due to COVID-19 pandemic | Not played due to COVID-19 pandemic | – | – | – | – | – |
| – | 2021 | Not played due to COVID-19 pandemic | Not played due to COVID-19 pandemic | – | – | – | – | – |
| 76 | 2022 | H. Peiris | L. Moragoda | 20 August | RCSC | 29 | 0 | Royal (35) |
| 76 | 2022 | H. Peiris | L. Moragoda | 3 September | TCRS | 21 | 26 | Royal (35) |
| 77 | 2023 | R. Senanayake | A. Manzil | 22 July | TCRS | 10 | 13 | Royal (36) |
| 77 | 2023 | R. Senanayake | A. Manzil | 5 August | RCSC | 27 | 17 | Royal (36) |
| 78 | 2024 | T. Perera | T. Dissanayaka | 24 August | RCSC | 16 | 17 | Trinity (40) |
| 78 | 2024 | T. Perera | T. Dissanayaka | 7 September | TCRS | 23 | 25 | Trinity (40) |
| 79 | 2025 | TBD | M. U. Shafraz | 23 August | TCRS | | | TBD (TBD) |
| 79 | 2025 | TBD | M. U. Shafraz | 6 September | RCSC | | | TBD (TBD) |

### Statistics

    As of 7 September 2024
Series statistics :
| Played | Won by | Won by | Drawn |
| Played | Royal | Trinity | Drawn |
| 78 | 36 | 40 | 2 |
Match statistics :
| Venue | Played | Won by | Won by | Drawn | Total points | Total points |
| Venue | Played | Royal | Trinity | Drawn | Royal | Trinity |
| Colombo | 78 | 41 | 31 | 6 | 922 | 752 |
| Kandy | 77 | 31 | 41 | 5 | 789 | 824 |
| Overall | 155 | 72 | 72 | 11 | 1,711 | 1,576 |

## Royal vs. Trinity rugby matches in other competitions: 1987–present

    As of 17 August 2024
1987–present :
| Tournament | Year | Captains | Captains | Date | Venue | Score | Score | Winner |
| Tournament | Year | Royal | Trinity | Date | Venue | Royal | Trinity | Winner |
| R. Premadasa Trophy Quarter-finals | 1987 | H. A. S. Madanayake | T. Rajapakse | 30 August | Sugathadasa | 6 | 10 | Trinity |
| R. Premadasa Trophy Quarter-finals | 1993 | C. R. A. Abeysuriya | N. Muhandiramge | 6 September | Sugathadasa | 6 | 9 | Trinity |
| Milo President's Trophy Semi-finals | 2014 | N. Jayawardena | T. Ratwatte | 3 July | RCSC | 30 | 29 | Royal |
| Dialog Schools Rugby League Game Week 3 | 2022 | H. Peiris | L. Moragoda | 8 July | RCSC | 20 | 21 | Trinity |
| Dialog Schools Rugby League Super Round – Week 2 | 2024 | T. Perera | T. Dissanayaka | 17 August | Sugathadasa | 22 | 19 | Royal |

### Statistics

    As of 17 August 2024
Match statistics :
| Venue | Played | Won by | Won by | Drawn | Total points | Total points |
| Venue | Played | Royal | Trinity | Drawn | Royal | Trinity |
| Colombo | 5 | 2 | 3 | – | 84 | 88 |
| Overall | 5 | 2 | 3 | – | 84 | 88 |

## Royal vs. Trinity – A head-to-head comparison: 1920–present
### Statistics

    As of 7 September 2024
Match statistics :
| Tournament | Span | Played | Won by | Won by | Drawn | Total points | Total points |
| Tournament | Span | Played | Royal | Trinity | Drawn | Royal | Trinity |
| Inter-school | 1920–1944 | 22 | 3 | 19 | – | 53 | 410 |
| Bradby Shield | 1945–2024 | 155 | 72 | 72 | 11 | 1,711 | 1,576 |
| Other competitions | 1987–2024 | 5 | 2 | 3 | – | 84 | 88 |
| Overall | 1920–2024 | 182 | 77 | 94 | 11 | 1,848 | 2,074 |

## Community engagement programmes
### The souvenir

Since 1977, the Royal College Interact Club has published the Bradby Souvenir to commemorate the encounter's Colombo leg.

### Bradby express

The Bradby express was the name given to the regular Intercity Express train service offered by the Sri Lanka Railways that was packed with students and old boys from both schools on their way to the Kandy leg of the encounter - hence the name Bradby Express. It started off in the 1950s and was held yearly until the mid-1980s, when it was halted due to security concerns resulting from the intensification of the Sri Lankan civil war and the Insurrection 1987-89.
Since the end of the conflict, a chartered train dubbed as The Bradby express has served this role, transporting Royal supporters to and from Kandy for the event.

### Bradby golf

Former Royal and Trinity students compete for the G. C. Wickremesinghe Challenge Trophy, a golf tournament hosted at the Victoria Golf & Country Resort since 2016 before the Kandy leg of the Bradby Shield encounter.

## Notable moments in Bradby Shield history
### Match and series records

    As of 7 September 2024
Records: 1945–present :
| Winning the encounter after losing the first leg | Royal | 3 (1979, 1998 and 2023) |
| Winning the encounter after losing the first leg | Trinity | 5 (1945, 1946, 1962, 1972 and 2011) |
| Winning the encounter after drawing the first leg | Royal | 1 (1978) |
| Winning the encounter after drawing the first leg | Trinity | 2 (1963 and 1966) |
| The biggest comeback win | Royal | Lost the first leg 18–20 in 1998, but won the second leg 42–11 and the encounter by a margin of 29 points. |
| The biggest comeback win | Trinity | Lost the first leg 25–33 in 2011, but won the second leg 40–5 and overturned a deficit of 8 points to win the encounter by a margin of 27 points. |
| Longest winning streak | Royal | 5: Recorded between 2017 and 2023. |
| Longest winning streak | Trinity | 6: The longest winning streak in the series, recorded between 1952 and 1957. |
| The highest aggregate score by a team in an encounter | Royal | 83 points in 2002 is the record for the highest aggregate score by a team in the series over two legs. |
| The highest aggregate score by a team in an encounter | Trinity | 70 points in 2012. |
| The highest margin of victory in an encounter | Royal | 83 points in 2002 (83–0) is the highest recorded victory margin in the series over two legs. |
| The highest margin of victory in an encounter | Trinity | 56 points in 2005 (69–13). |
| The record for the highest score achieved by a team in a single match | Royal | 49 points in 2015 second leg, is the highest recorded in a single match. |
| The record for the highest score achieved by a team in a single match | Trinity | 40 points in 2011 second leg. |
| The highest aggregate score achieved by both teams in a single match | 75 points in 2010 first leg, with Royal winning 38–37. | 75 points in 2010 first leg, with Royal winning 38–37. |
| The highest aggregate score achieved by both teams in an encounter | 126 points in 2010, with Royal winning 72–54. | 126 points in 2010, with Royal winning 72–54. |
| Drawn encounters | In 1992, the Bradby encounter ended in a draw as both legs concluded with scores of 3–3 in the first leg and 0–0 in the second leg. This marked the first time such an outcome had occurred in Bradby history. The second drawn encounter took place in 2016, with Royal winning the first leg 22–17 and Trinity winning the second leg 18–13. | In 1992, the Bradby encounter ended in a draw as both legs concluded with scores of 3–3 in the first leg and 0–0 in the second leg. This marked the first time such an outcome had occurred in Bradby history. The second drawn encounter took place in 2016, with Royal winning the first leg 22–17 and Trinity winning the second leg 18–13. |

### Other interesting events

* 1971: Due to security concerns stemming from the 1971 JVP Insurrection, only the first leg of the 27th encounter was staged between the schools. The Shield was awarded to Royal College as a result of the first leg at an assembly by Mr E. L. Fernando, the then-principal of Trinity College.
* 1983: Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Bradby travelled to Sri Lanka as guests of The Royal College Union for the second leg of the 39th encounter.
* 1987: J. R. Jayewardene, the President of Sri Lanka at the time, attended the second leg of the 43rd encounter as the chief guest. He had previously captained the Royal College team in 1924 against Trinity College, where they lost 3–37.
* 2013: The first leg of the 69th encounter, held on 1 June 2013 at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium, was officiated by Jonathan Kaplan, a renowned international rugby union referee with four Rugby World Cup appearances to his credit.
* 2019: The 2019 encounter marked the 75th anniversary of the series. The matches were postponed numerous times in the aftermath of the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings and was played under heightened security.
* 2020 and 2021: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series was suspended in 2020 and 2021, marking the first time in its history that the Bradby series was totally halted.
* 2024: The first and second legs of the 78th encounter, held on 24 August 2024 and 7 September 2024, respectively, were officiated by UAE-based referees Jaco de Wit and Brayden Hudson.