Clifford Cup

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. 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) 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 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. On that occasion both Ceylonese R & FC and Colombo H and FC boycotted the competition. 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. 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. In 2020 and 2021 the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis the league competition was shortened with each team, playing each other only once and the Clifford Cup competition was cancelled for a third year running. In 2023 the tournament returned after a three year hiatus. The competition however was only contested by six teams, with Kandy SC withdrawing on the basis that none of their games would be played on their home ground, and Colombo Hockey and Football Club advising that they would not be able to field a team, due to player injuries and migration. The cup was won by the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club, their fifteenth win and the first since 2006. ==Trophy==

In 1911 Lady Clifford consented 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. 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. ==Teams==

Current teams Former teams • All Ceylon Rugby Football Club • Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club (established in 1868) • Dimbula Athletic & Cricket Club (established in 1856) • Hambantota Sharks (established in 2013) • Kelani Valley Club (established in 1885) • Low Country • United Services • Up Country Lions (established in 2012) • Uva Gymkhana Club (established in 1880) ==Results==

The Kandy Sports Club has won the Clifford Cup a record 23 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 16 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. • ‡ Shared ==See also==