| Ulster Bank All-Ireland League | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Rugby union |
| Instituted | 1990 |
| Number of teams | 48 |
| Nations | Ireland |
| Holders | Old Belvedere (2010–11) |
| 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.
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 & 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 & 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.
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:
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]
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 20.
Irish club rugby is known world-wide for the 'third centre' or 'crash ball out-half'. This term and position was made famous by the now retired Paul Brophy(banker). Paul would be given the number 10 jersey however he was specifically told not to kick the ball or try anything fancy and instead instructed to take it into the tackle. The orthodox number 10 position was therefore made redundant for any team Paul played for. In fact when Paul played for Tullow he wore the number 16 jersey and with no player wearing the number 10. During his time at Tullow he was affectionately known as the 'non-kicking out-half'. However Paul often received a hard time from opposing fans. One would often hear a play on the 'Tribe called quest' hit with one half of the opposing fans singing: "Can I kick it" and the other half replying "no you can't". Since Paul's retirement this unique position has become extinct.
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
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
See also: AIB Division Three
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