Ulster Senior League

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For the soccer league of the same name, see Ulster Senior League (association football).
The logo of the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union
The logo of the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union

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

[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

[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

[edit] 1980s

[edit] 1990s

[edit] 2000s

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ BBC report of 2006-07 title decider. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  2. ^ BBC Sport report of Belfast Harlequins title win in 2007-08. Retrieved on 2007-12-30.
v • d • e
Ulster Rugby
Part of the Irish Rugby Football Union
Competitions
Ulster Senior Cup • Ulster Senior League • Ulster Junior Cup • Ulster Towns Cup • McCrea Cup • Ulster Schools Cup • Medallion Shield
Senior clubs
Ards • Ballymena • Ballynahinch • Banbridge • Belfast Harlequins • Dungannon • Instonians • Malone • Portadown • Queen's University • Rainey Old Boys