All-Ireland League (rugby union)
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| Ulster Bank All-Ireland League | |
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| Sport | Rugby union |
| Instituted | 1990 |
| Number of teams | 48 |
| Nations |  Ireland |
| Holders | St Mary's College (2011-12) |
| Most titles | Shannon RFC (9 titles) |
| Website | www.irishrugby.ie |
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play against Scottish, Welsh and Italian teams in the RaboDirect Pro12. The participants in the league also participate in the associated All-Ireland League Cup.
[edit] Tournament format
The league is currently divided into three divisions (with Division One further divided into two sections, 1A and 1B, effectively creating a four division structure). Division One is played in the traditional double round-robin format with Divisions 2 and 3 played in a single round-robin format. The top three teams in Division 1A and the top team in Division 1B contest the end of season play-offs the determine the League champion. Play-offs also take place in Divisions 2 and 3 between the top four teams in those divisions.[1]
Promotion and relegation exists between the divisions and between the provinical junior leagues and Division 3.
[edit] New structure from 2011–2012
The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced a restructuring in the league which will take place at the end of the 2010–2011 season. Under this the AIL will increase in size to 52 clubs. To do this there will be no relegation out of the Division 3 to the provincial leagues at the end of this season (only) and all of the provincial league champions will be promoted to the AIL from this season onwards. The league will now consist of Divisions 1A and 1B (with ten teams each) and 2A and 2B (with sixteen teams each). Promotion and relegation within the leageue for the 2010–2011 season will be as follows:
- Top two clubs in Division 1B promoted to Division 1A (to give a ten-team league)
- Play-off between bottom club in Division 1A and 3rd team in Division 1B
- Top four clubs in Division 2 promoted to Division 1B (to give a ten-team league)
- Play-off between bottom club in Division 1B and 5th team in Division 2
- Top four clubs in Division 3 promoted to new Division 2A
- Play-off between bottom club in Division 2 and 5th team in Division 3
From 2011 onwards, the regular season champions will be divisional champions and will in the case of the Division 1A champions, become League champions, and in the case of the other divisions, be automatically be promoted.
Professional players will be banned from participating in Division 2 matches and foreign professional players from playing in the League at all. Division 1 sides will only be able to field two professional players in their matchday sides and only one may be a forward. The new structure will remain in place until at least 2017.[2]
[edit] History
The league was inaugurated in the 1990–91 season. It was not sponsored in the initial season, but was sponsored for six years by Insurance Corporation of Ireland and since the beginning of 1998 by Allied Irish Banks. AIB ended their sponsorship of the league at the end of the 2009–2010 season.[3] A replacement sponsor has been announced. It is Ulster Bank.[4]
It has been dominated by teams from Limerick who have won 13 out of 20 Championships. Teams from Munster have won 17 out of 22.
[edit] Previous winners
1991 Cork Constitution
1992 Garryowen
1993 Young Munster
1994 Garryowen
1995 Shannon
1996 Shannon
1997 Shannon
1998 Shannon
1999 Cork Constitution
2000 St Mary's College
2001 Dungannon
2002 Shannon
2003 Ballymena
2004 Shannon[a]
2005 Shannon
2006 Shannon[b]
2007 Garryowen
2008 Cork Constitution
2009 Shannon[c][d]
2010 Cork Constitution
2011 Old Belvedere
2012[5] St Mary's College
NOTES:
[a] Cork Constitution won the most points, they were defeated by Shannon in the final
[b] Garryowen won the most points, they were defeated by Shannon in the semi-final who went on to beat Clontarf in the final
[c] Cork Constitution won the most points, they were defeated by Clontarf in the semi-final who went on to lose to Shannon in the final
[d] Shannon won the final by virtue of scoring the game's first try after the game finished in a 19–19 draw with extra time played
[edit] Total wins by club
- Shannon 9
- Cork Constitution 4
- Garryowen 3
- St Mary's College 2
- Young Munster 1
- Dungannon 1
- Ballymena 1
- Old Belvedere 1
[edit] Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1A Season 2011–12
- Blackrock College
- Clontarf
- Cork Constitution
- Dolphin
- Garryowen
- Lansdowne
- Old Belvedere
- St Mary's College
- Shannon
- Young Munster
[edit] Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1B Season 2011–12
- Ballymena
- Ballynahinch RFC
- Belfast Harlequins
- Bruff
- Buccaneers
- Dungannon
- Galwegians
- UCC
- UL Bohemians
- UCD
[edit] Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 2A Season 2011–12
- Bective Rangers
- City of Derry
- Clonakilty
- Corinthians
- DLSP
- Dublin University
- Greystones
- Instonians
- Malone
- Midleton
- Old Crescent
- Old Wesley
- Queen's University
- Seapoint
- Terenure College RFC
- Thomond
[edit] Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 2B Season 2011–12
See also: AIB Division Three
- Ards
- Armagh RFC
- Banbridge
- Boyne RFC
- Cashel RFC
- Connemara
- Highfield
- Naas
- Navan
- Nenagh Ormond
- N.U.I.M. Barnhall
- Rainey Old Boys
- Sligo
- Sundays Well
- Suttonians
- Wanderers
[edit] Championship deciders
- In each division the club finishing on top after the League series will receive a Union plaque but is not deemed the champion club of that division. Champions of each division are decided on a play-off of the top four clubs. First plays Fourth & Second plays Third. The winners then meet in a final
- If a match is tied at the end of 80 minutes the following criteria determine the winner:
- Extra time of ten minutes each way will be played
- If still tied, the club that has scored the most tries in the game will be the winner
- If still tied, the club that finished in the higher position in the league during the season will be the winner
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/downloads/Handbook_2009-2010-Final.pdf
- ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_20932.php
- ^ "AIB to end domestic rugby sponsorship". The Irish Times Limited. 5 February 2010. http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2010/0205/1224263859150.htmltitle=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2010/0205/1224263859150.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "IRFU and Ulster Bank Announce New Community Rugby Partnership". SportsNews Ireland. 28 January 2011. http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/2011/01/10/irfu-and-ulster-bank-announce-new-community-rugby-partnership. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ "Hogan raises toast to hail Mary's spirit". Irish Independent. 23 April 2012. http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/hogan-raises-toast-to-hail-marys-spirit-3088619.html. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
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