Ulster Senior League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ulster Senior League is a rugby union competition for senior clubs in the Irish province of Ulster. It has traditionally being ranked second in importance to the Ulster Senior Cup. It has declined in importance due to the formation of the All-Ireland League and growth in importance of the Heineken Cup.
The Senior League has had a chequered history. Its value was marred in the amateur era by periods when the elite clubs like North, Instonians and Collegians withdrew from the league to allow them to fulfil more friendly fixtures - particularly against English and Welsh opposition. This attitude from some of the senior clubs even lead to the scrapping of the league in 1930, and it was not re-established until after World War II. The practice of withdrawing from the league finally died out in the 1970s.
Mostly the league was played in one section on an all-play-all home and away basis. However with the expansion of the number of Senior Clubs in 1980, two sections were formed and the top two teams qualified for semi-finals. This allowed for a showpiece final at the end of the season.
The two section arrangement continued until 1990 when the advent of professionalism and preparation for the All-Ireland League, saw the league separated into two sections based on playing ability. Promotion and relegation between the two sections was introduced at this time.
Contents |
[edit] Winners
[edit] 1890s
- 1891 Queens University
- 1892 North of Ireland Football Club (NIFC)
- 1893 NIFC
- 1894 NIFC
- 1895 NIFC
- 1896 NIFC
- 1897 NIFC
- 1898 NIFC
- 1899 NIFC
[edit] 1900s
- 1900 Queens University
- 1901 NIFC
- 1902 NIFC
- 1903 Collegians
- 1904 Malone
- 1905 Malone
- 1906 Malone
- 1907 Malone
- 1908 Collegians
- 1909 NIFC
[edit] 1910s
- 1910
- 1911 Collegians
- 1912 Queens University
- 1913 Collegians
- 1914 Season abandoned due political crisis caused by Home Rule debate.
- 1915-1919 Not played due to World War I
[edit] 1920s
- 1920 Queens University
- 1921 NIFC
- 1922 Queens University
- 1923 Queens University
- 1924 Queens University
- 1925 Instonians
- 1926 Instonians
- 1927 Instonians/NIFC
- 1928 Instonians
- 1929 Civil Service
[edit] 1930s
- 1930 Bangor
- 1931-1945 Not Played
[edit] 1940s
- 1946 NIFC
- 1947 Queen's University
- 1948 Queen's University
- 1949 Queen's University
[edit] 1950s
- 1950 Queen's University
- 1951 Collegians/Instonians
- 1952 Collegians
- 1953 Instonians/Queen's University
- 1954 Instonians/Queen's University
- 1955 NIFC
- 1956 Collegians
- 1957 Instonians/Queen's University
- 1958 Instonians
- 1959 NIFC
[edit] 1960s
- 1960 Instonians
- 1961 Dungannon
- 1962 Collegians
- 1963 C.I.Y.M.S.
- 1964 Queen's University
- 1965 Dungannon
- 1966 NIFC
- 1967 Queen's University
- 1968 Dungannon
- 1969 Malone
[edit] 1970s
- 1970 Civil Service
- 1971 C.I.Y.M.S.
- 1972 C.I.Y.M.S.
- 1973 Ballymena/C.I.Y.M.S.
- 1974 C.I.Y.M.S.
- 1975 Bangor
- 1976 Ballymena
- 1977 Bangor
- 1978 Ballymena
- 1979 Ballymena
[edit] 1980s
- 1980 Queen's University
- 1981 Bangor beat Queen's University
- 1982 Bangor beat Collegians
- 1983 Bangor beat Collegians
- 1984 Ards RFC beat Instonians
- 1985 Instonians beat Ards RFC
- 1986 Ballymena beat Bangor
- 1987 Instonians beat Ballymena
- 1988 Bangor beat Malone
- 1989 Ballymena beat Malone
[edit] 1990s
- 1990 Ballymena beat Malone
- 1991 Dungannon beat Ards
- 1992 NIFC beat City of Derry
- 1993 Malone beat NIFC
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997 Ballymena
- 1998 Ballymena
- 1999
[edit] 2000s
- 2000 City of Derry
- 2001 Ballymena
- 2002 Ballymena
- 2003 Belfast Harlequins
- 2004 Belfast Harlequins
- 2005 Ballymena/Belfast Harlequins
- 2006 Ballymena/Dungannon