Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup

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Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup
Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup
SportRugby union
Founded1887
Organising bodyLeinster Rugby
No. of teams16
Most recent
champion(s)
Blackrock College (71st title)
Most titlesBlackrock College (71 titles)

The Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup is the premier rugby union competition for secondary schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), and was first held in 1887.

Attendances are high for a schoolboy competition, with up to 25000 present at the final. This match traditionally took place on Saint Patrick's Day at Lansdowne Road. In 2008, the final was played at the Royal Dublin Society Grounds (RDS) after Donnybrook proved to be too small for the 2007 final, (Lansdowne Road was closed for redevelopment) and has been the home since. Since the move to the RDS and live television coverage , the attendance has decreased and is now typically 10,000 to 14,000.[citation needed]


Blackrock College are the most successful school in the cup's history, having won 71 times, more than all other teams combined.[1]

History[edit]

Three schools have won the cup at their first attempt; Blackrock College in the competition's maiden year in 1887, Castleknock College who won the first of their eight Leinster titles at the first time of asking when they defeated Blackrock in the 1913 final and Clongowes Wood College who first won the cup in 1926. St. Fintan's High School and Temple Carrig School are the most recent 'new' schools to the competition, making their debuts in the 2016/17 and 2019/20 seasons respectively.

To date, only six schools have achieved the Senior and Junior Cup "double". These are Blackrock, who have achieved this feat 26 times (1910, 1912, 1927, 1933, 1935–36, 1942–43, 1945, 1948, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1962, 1964, 1981–82, 1986–87, 1995, 2004, 2006, 2013–14, 2018), St Michaels twice (2012 & 2019), Newbridge (2020), Belvedere (2005), Terenure (1958) and Castleknock College (1920).

Even more rare is to lose both the Senior and Junior Cup Finals in the same year. This outcome has been experienced by seven schools on 12 occasions. Terenure College leads with 4 (1957, 1964, 1969 & 1987), followed by Belvedere College with 3 (1930, 1944 & 1962), next St Michaels College (2010), St Mary's College (1943), Newbridge College (1939), Cistercian College Roscrea (1910) and Blackrock College (2017) with 1 each. It happened to Blackrock College for the first time in 2017.[citation needed]

Blackrock College have only been defeated in successive finals on two occasions. In the 1920s they were runners up three times in a row, defeated by St Andrews in 1921 & 1922 followed by Belvedere in 1923. The second occasion was in 1979 & 1980 when they were defeated in successive finals by Terenure College.

The 91st Leinster Senior Schools Cup Final in 1977 was between Blackrock College and St Mary's College, and finished level at 12 points each at the end of normal time. Having played 70 minutes, the two sides now faced an additional 15 minutes extra time. Six minutes into extra time Blackrock got a try and conversion. Two further penalties in the second half of extra time sealed victory for Blackrock. The 1977 Leinster Senior Schools Cup Final was played on Sunday 20 March 1977 and not the normal St Patrick's Day. This decision was made to protect the Lansdowne Road pitch following poor weather prior to the Ireland v France Five Nations fixture on 19 March.[citation needed]

In September 1967, the then Minister for Education Donogh O'Malley introduced free secondary school education. Only very few rugby playing secondary schools opted to join the "Free Education" scheme. To date, only one of these non-fee paying schools has managed to win the Senior Cup. In 1983 and 1985, De La Salle Churchtown beat Castleknock College and Blackrock College.

Four captains have gained the distinction of lifting the cup twice, Larry McMahon (Blackrock College, 1929 and 1930), Garret Gill (Blackrock College,[2] 1962 and 1963), Jonny Mion (Blackrock College) in 1989 and 1990, Barry Gibney (Blackrock College) in 1995 and 1996.[citation needed]

The cup, and the schools who play for it, have a history of producing rugby players who have gone on to play for the Ireland national rugby union team. Players such as Denis Hickie, who captained his St. Mary's College team to win the cup in 1994, and Gordon D'Arcy have extensive Leinster Senior Cup records.[citation needed] The most international players produced have come from Blackrock College, with players such as Hugo MacNeill, Brendan Mullin, Brian O'Driscoll, Victor Costello, Shane Byrne, Bob Casey, Leo Cullen, Luke Fitzgerald, Ian Madigan, Jordi Murphy, Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery.[citation needed]

The 2020 season could not be completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result the title was deemed shared for the first time by Clongowes Wood College and Newbridge College. It was also only the forth time that no Dublin based school qualified for the final, 1932 (Pres Bray V Newbridge), 1941 (Newbridge V Roscrea), 2011 (Clongowes V Roscrea).[citation needed]

The 2021 cup campaign did not take place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[citation needed]

In 2023 first round tie between Terenure College and Clongowes Wood College, Clongowes won 17-15 in a very tight game. However it emerged afterwards that Clongowes fielded an illegible player and the Schools committee ordered a replay. Clongowes also won the replay 20-19 with Terenure hitting the posts with a last minute penalty attempt[3].[citation needed]

Roll of honour[edit]

¹ Corrig School moved premises to Monkstown Park in 1950 and was renamed C.B.C. Monkstown.

² Mountjoy School was amalgamated with other schools in 1972 to become Mount Temple Comprehensive School.

3 SCT Final not played due to Covid 19. Cup shared.

School Location Titles Winning years
Blackrock College Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 71 1887–88, 1890, 1893–97, 1900–05, 1907–1910, 1912, 1915–1919, 1925, 1927–1930, 1933–1936, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2024

SCT & JCT Double 26 times – 1910, 1912, 1927, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1995, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2018

Belvedere College Great Denmark Street , Dublin City 11 1923–24, 1938, 1946, 1951, 1968, 1971–72, 2005 (Double), 2008, 2016–17
Terenure College Terenure, Dublin City 10 1952, 1958 (Double), 1979–80, 1984, 1992–93, 1997, 2001, 2003
Clongowes Wood College Clane, County Kildare 9 1926, 1978, 1988, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2010–11, 20203
Castleknock College Castleknock, Dublin 8 1913, 1920 (Double), 1931, 1937, 1944, 1947, 1959, 1965
St. Mary's College Rathmines, Dublin City 5 1961, 1966, 1969, 1994, 2002
St. Andrew's College Booterstown, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 4 1906, 1911, 1921, 1922
Newbridge College Newbridge, County Kildare 3 1941, 1970, 20203 (Double)
St. Michael's College Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4 3 2007, 2012 (Double), 2019 (Double)
Corrig School / C.B.C. Monkstown¹ Monkstown, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 3 1889, 1892, 1976
De La Salle Churchtown Churchtown, Dublin 2 1983, 1985
Gonzaga College Ranelagh, Dublin 1 2023
Cistercian College, Roscrea Roscrea, County Offaly 1 2015
The High School Rathgar, Dublin 1 1973
Presentation College Bray Bray, County Wicklow 1 1932
Mountjoy School / Mount Temple Comprehensive School² Malahide Road, Dublin City 1 1914
Saint Columba's College Whitechurch, South Dublin 1 1899
Wesley College Ballinteer, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 1 1898

Results[edit]

Year Winner Score Runner-up
1887 Blackrock College 3–0 Farra School, Westmeath
1888 Blackrock College 8–0 Rathmines School
1889 Corrig School 4–0 Galway Grammar School
1890 Blackrock College 22–0 Corrig School
1891 Rathmines School 1–0 Wesley College
1892 Corrig School 0–0
6–2
Rathmines School
1893 Blackrock College 18–0 Rathmines School
1894 Blackrock College 5–0 Corrig School
1895 Blackrock College 15–3 Wesley College
1896 Blackrock College 8–3 Wesley College
1897 Blackrock College 25–0 The High School
1898 Wesley College 15–0 Rathmines School
1899 St. Columba's College 8–5 Blackrock College
1900 Blackrock College 63–0 Corrig School
1901 Blackrock College 13–0 Corrig School
1902 Blackrock College 3–3
18–0
St. Andrew's College
1903 Blackrock College 8–5 St. Andrew's College
1904 Blackrock College 8–0 Mountjoy School
1905 Blackrock College 0–0
6–0
Mountjoy School
1906 St. Andrew's College 5–0 Blackrock College
1907 Blackrock College 28–3 The King's Hospital
1908 Blackrock College 9–3 St. Andrew's College
1909 Blackrock College 25–0 The High School
1910 Blackrock College 0–0
6–3
Cistercian College, Roscrea
1911 St. Andrew's College 9–3 Mountjoy School
1912 Blackrock College 11–0 St. Columba's College
1913 Castleknock College 8–5 Blackrock College
1914 Mountjoy School 3–0 Wesley College
1915 Blackrock College 12–0 The High School
1916 Blackrock College 14–3 Castleknock College
1917 Blackrock College 21–0 Belvedere College
1918 Blackrock College 12–0 Mountjoy School
1919 Blackrock College 25–0 The High School
1920 Castleknock College 9–0 Mountjoy School
1921 St. Andrew's College 6–0 Blackrock College
1922 St. Andrew's College 3–0 Blackrock College
1923 Belvedere College 2–0 Blackrock College
1924 Belvedere College 8–3 Castleknock College
1925 Blackrock College 2–0 Castleknock College
1926 Clongowes Wood College 9–5 Belvedere College
1927 Blackrock College 12–5 Clongowes Wood College
1928 Blackrock College 6–0 Clongowes Wood College
1929 Blackrock College 8–0 Clongowes Wood College
1930 Blackrock College 11–7 Belvedere College
1931 Castleknock College 6–0 Belvedere College
1932 Presentation Bray 6–4 Newbridge College
1933 Blackrock College 10–0 Belvedere College
1934 Blackrock College 33–0 Wesley College
1935 Blackrock College 18–3 Wesley College
1936 Blackrock College 14–0 Clongowes Wood College
1937 Castleknock College 8–0 Mountjoy School
1938 Belvedere College 3–0 Castleknock College
1939 Blackrock College 8–3 Newbridge College
1940 Blackrock College 3–0 Castleknock College
1941 Newbridge College 0–0
9–3
Cistercian College, Roscrea
1942 Blackrock College 9–6 Castleknock College
1943 Blackrock College 9–6 St. Mary's College
1944 Castleknock College 18–3 Belvedere College
1945 Blackrock College 28–3 Newbridge College
1946 Belvedere College 8–0 St. Mary's College
1947 Castleknock College 6–0 Blackrock College
1948 Blackrock College 9–0 Castleknock College
1949 Blackrock College 6–3 Clongowes Wood College
1950 Blackrock College 18–0 Castleknock College
1951 Belvedere College 12–0 The King's Hospital
1952 Terenure College 9–3 Castleknock College
1953 Blackrock College 11–0 Clongowes Wood College
1954 Blackrock College 11–3 Belvedere College
1955 Blackrock College 11–8 Castleknock College
1956 Blackrock College 11–0 Terenure College
1957 Blackrock College 5–3 Terenure College
1958 Terenure College 3–0 Belvedere College
1959 Castleknock College 11–9 Newbridge College
1960 Blackrock College 13–6 Terenure College
1961 St. Mary's College 11–0 Castleknock College
1962 Blackrock College 9–3 Belvedere College
1963 Blackrock College 6–0 The High School
1964 Blackrock College 3–0 Terenure College
1965 Castleknock College 12–8 Blackrock College
1966 St. Mary's College 14–6 Newbridge College
1967 Blackrock College 11–3 St. Mary's College
1968 Belvedere College 14–11 De La Salle Churchtown
1969 St. Mary's College 10–9 Terenure College
1970 Newbridge College 19–5 Blackrock College
1971 Belvedere College 14–11 Presentation Bray
1972 Belvedere College 20–10 Terenure College
1973 The High School 19–7 Belvedere College
1974 Blackrock College 10–6 St. Mary's College
1975 Blackrock College 11–7 De La Salle Churchtown
1976 C.B.C. Monkstown 3–0 Castleknock College
1977 Blackrock College 12–12 FT
24–12 ET
St. Mary's College
1978 Clongowes Wood College 9–6 Terenure College
1979 Terenure College 15–9 Blackrock College
1980 Terenure College 12–10 Blackrock College
1981 Blackrock College 9–3 Clongowes Wood College
1982 Blackrock College 22–3 The King's Hospital
1983 De La Salle Churchtown 13–6 Castleknock College
1984 Terenure College 15–3 C.B.C. Monkstown
1985 De La Salle Churchtown 10–6 Blackrock College
1986 Blackrock College 10–3 De La Salle Churchtown
1987 Blackrock College 15–9 Terenure College
1988 Clongowes Wood College 6–3 St Michael's College
1989 Blackrock College 28–16 Belvedere College
1990 Blackrock College 14–6 Clongowes Wood College
1991 Clongowes Wood College 7–3 St Michael's College
1992 Terenure College 19–6 Belvedere College
1993 Terenure College 8–3 Clongowes Wood College
1994 St. Mary's College 14–14
7–3
Clongowes Wood College
1995 Blackrock College 8–3 Clongowes Wood College
1996 Blackrock College 37–3 Newbridge College
1997 Terenure College 22–15 Clongowes Wood College
1998 Clongowes Wood College 37–18 Terenure College
1999 Blackrock College 17–9 Cistercian College, Roscrea
2000 Clongowes Wood College 13–11 Terenure College
2001 Terenure College 21–19 Blackrock College
2002 St. Mary's College 10–6 Belvedere College
2003 Terenure College 6–6
3–0
St. Mary's College
2004 Blackrock College 24–9 Clongowes Wood College
2005[4] Belvedere College 16–10 Blackrock College
2006 Blackrock College 14–12 St Michael's College
2007 St Michael's College 6–0 Clongowes Wood College
2008 Belvedere College 11–10 St. Mary's College
2009 Blackrock College 18–9 Terenure College
2010 Clongowes Wood College 38–20 St Michael's College
2011 Clongowes Wood College 46–15 Cistercian College, Roscrea
2012[5] St Michael's College 17–10 Clongowes Wood College
2013[6] Blackrock College 23–20 St Michael's College
2014[7] Blackrock College 22–17 Clongowes Wood College
2015[8] Cistercian College, Roscrea 18–11 Belvedere College
2016[9] Belvedere College 31–7 Cistercian College, Roscrea
2017 Belvedere College 10–3 Blackrock College
2018 Blackrock College 35–12 Belvedere College
2019 St Michael's College 28–5 Gonzaga College
2020[10] Clongowes Wood College
Joint Winners Newbridge College
2021 Cancelled due to Covid 19 Pandemic
2022[11] Blackrock College 50–21 Gonzaga College
2023[12] Gonzaga College 35–31 Blackrock College
2024[13] Blackrock College 28–12 St Michael's College
2025

Records[edit]

Sponsorship and media coverage[edit]

The competition was known for several years as the "Coca-Cola Leinster Schools Senior Cup" and in later years the "Powerade Leinster Schools Senior Cup" (Powerade is also owned by the Coca-Cola Company). In September 2013, Beauchamps Solicitors became the title sponsor for the Leinster Schools Senior Cup. For the duration of this partnership with Beauchamps, the Senior Cup was known as the "Beauchamps Leinster Schools Senior Cup".[14]

The competition receives coverage in Ireland's broadsheets, in particular the Irish Independent and The Irish Times. Both publish previews of each year's competition and provide match reports for each game played.[citation needed]

The competition's final on St Patrick's Day was previously broadcast on TG4, however, this was discontinued in the early 2000s. From 2005 onwards, however, Setanta Sports began coverage of school's rugby. This included the finals of all provincial finals and coverage of the Leinster Schools Junior Cup. The Leinster Senior Cup was most prominent, however, with coverage from every game played at Donnybrook and every round of the competition.[citation needed]

FreeSports replaced Eir Sport as the competition broadcaster ahead of the 2019 competition where they will broadcast eight games live.[15]

Leinster School of the Year Award[edit]

In 2008, Leinster Rugby instituted an award for overall performance of a school at every level of schools rugby. The award, "Powerade Leinster Rugby School of the Year", has been given at an annual Leinster awards ceremony.[citation needed]

The inaugural winners were C.B.C. Monkstown. They were followed in by Terenure College (2009), St Gerard's School (2010), Clongowes Wood College (2011), St. Michael's College (2012), (2019) and Blackrock College (2013), (2018). Gonzaga College (2017)[16][17][18]

Tiers[edit]

Schools Senior Cup Rugby in Leinster is divided into 4 tiers in two sections, and each cup competition bears a name. These 'tiers', in ascending order, include: Section A Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Development Cup (effectively division 4), Section A Leinster Schools Rugby McMullen Cup (effectively division 3), Section B Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Cup (effectively division 2), Section B Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup (effectively division 1).[citation needed]

The second tier competition, the Leinster School's Vinnie Murray Cup, is contested by secondary schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU. It is named in memory of Vincent Murray, a teacher in Clongowes Wood college who trained the rugby team and died in December 1999. Catholic University School were both 2022 and 2023 champions [19] and St. Fintan's High School won the cup in 2024.[20] With five wins, C.B.C. Monkstown has won the Vinnie Murray Cup the most times. Wesley College the second most with four wins. Catholic University School the third most with three wins.[21] Gonzaga College, and St Gerard's School have won the trophy twice. Kilkenny College, Temple Carrig School and St. Fintan's High School have each won the cup once.[22][failed verification]

In popular culture[edit]

  • The Ross O'Carroll-Kelly character, created by Paul Howard, lives off the glory of winning a Leinster Senior Cup final medal with the fictional school "Castlerock College" in the novel The Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly.
  • Gerard Siggins' series of novels, Rugby Spirit (2012), Rugby Warrior (2014), Rugby Rebel (2015), Rugby Flyer (2016) and Rugby Runner (2017) tell the story of a boy, Eoin Madden, who plays rugby for the fictional Dublin school "Castlerock College". He takes part in several campaigns with the school, including the Leinster Junior Cup. The school's name is an homage to that in Paul Howard's books, as Siggins had coined the name "Ross O'Carroll Kelly".

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Statistics compiled by Des Daly, Irish Rugby Statistician". Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  2. ^ Leinster Schools Senior Rugby Cup Centenary Celebration 1886-1986
  3. ^ "Terenure awarded replay after Clongowes field ineligible player in Leinster Schools Senior Cup tie". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Belvo take first senior cup win". www.rte.ie. 14 July 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Towering Leavy Michael's hero". independent. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Power pounces to steal it for teak-tough 'Rock". Irish Independent. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Blackrock claim Leinster Schools crown". Setanta News. 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Roscrea claim first ever Leinster Senior Cup title with victory over Belvedere". Irish Independent. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Belvedere secure an 11th Leinster Schools Senior Cup triumph". Irish Independent. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  10. ^ "IRFU to conclude incomplete 2019/20 season with immediate effect". Leinster Rugby. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Blackrock College power their way to 70th Leinster senior title". Irish Times. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Gonzaga win a first Senior Cup after dethroning champions Blackrock in final for the ages". Irish Times. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Blackrock win 71st Leinster Schools Senior Cup in emphatic fashion". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Domestic News - The Official Home of Leinster Rugby". Leinster Rugby. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Leinster Rugby announces new TV deal for 2019 Senior Schools Cup". The 42. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Leinster Rugby : Player of the Year Awards". Archived from the original on 12 September 2008.
  17. ^ "Irish Rugby : Elsom Scoops Leinster Player of the Year Award". Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  18. ^ "Leinster Rugby : Newsroom : Nacewa bags top honour at Leinster Awards Ball..." Archived from the original on 10 May 2011.
  19. ^ "CUS make it back-to-back titles in Vinnie Murray Cup". independent. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  20. ^ https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/2024/03/07/st-fintans-high-school-win-the-vinnie-murray-cup/
  21. ^ Kelly, Daniel (10 March 2023). "CUS retain Bank of Ireland Vinnie Murray Cup". Leinster Rugby. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Sect B: Vinnie Murray Cup - Leinster Schools Vincent Murray Cup - History". leinsterrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014.

External links[edit]