All-Ireland League (rugby union)

The All-Ireland League (AIL), known for sponsorship reasons as the Energia All-Ireland League, is the national league system for the 50 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The league was inaugurated in the 1990–91 season.

All-Ireland League
Current season or competition:
2024–25 All-Ireland League (rugby union)
SportRugby union
Instituted1990; 34 years ago (1990)
Number of teams50
Nations
HoldersCork Constitution (7th title) (2023–24)
Most titlesShannon (9 titles)
Websiteirishrugby.ie/all-ireland-leagues

Cork Constitution F.C are the only club to have constantly retained their status in Division 1 since 1990/91. All other clubs in the league have experienced relegation.

The league is the second highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as professional teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play in the United Rugby Championship.

Division 1 sides may field no more than two professional players in their matchday sides, and only one may be a forward. Division 2 sides may not field professional players. Foreign professional players may not play in the League. Cork Constitution, the inaugural winners, are the only club to have retained top division status since the inception of the league.[1]

Format

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The League consists of 5 divisions of 10 teams each playing a double round-robin competition using the standard Rugby union bonus points system. The season runs from mid-September until mid-April, with an approximately four-week break in matches from mid-December to early-January. At the completion of the league phase the top 4 teams in Division 1A qualify for the play-off semi-finals, with the two winners meeting in the final.

The 10th placed teams in Divisions 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B are relegated to Divisions 1B, 2A, 2B and 2C respectively while the winners of Divisions 1B, 2A, 2B and 2C are promoted up one division. The 9th placed team in Division 1A along with the 2nd to 4th placed teams in Division 1B enter a play-off competition with the winner playing in Division 1A the following season. This same play-off competition also applies to the other divisions.

The 10th placed team in Division 2C are relegated from the league to their respective Provincial qualifying league and are replaced by the winner of the All-Ireland Provincial League Championship. The 9th placed team in Division 2C play the runner-up of the All-Ireland Provincial League Championship with the winner playing in Division 2C the following season.[2]

All-Ireland Provincial League Championship

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The All-Ireland Provincial League Championship is contested by the winners of the four provincial qualifying leagues in Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. They are drawn to play in two semi-finals with the winners meeting in the final, where the winner will play in Division 2C of the A.I.L. for the following season. The runner-up plays against the 9th place team in Division 2C and the winner of this play-off will also play in Division 2C of the A.I.L. the following season.

History

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Prior to 1990, there was no national league in Ireland. Each of the four provincial unions had its own cup and league tournament. In 1991, after almost five years of discussion and consultation with clubs, the All-Ireland League (AIL) was introduced with two divisions, division 1 with 9 clubs and division 2 with 10 clubs.[3][4][5] The AIL was expanded to four divisions in 1993–94,[6] with small variations in the numbers of teams per division in subsequent seasons.[7][8]

In 2000–01 the league was restructured to three divisions, each with 16 teams.[9] After the 1995 introduction of professionalism in rugby union, the IRFU increased the importance of the provinces, which from 2002 participated in the Celtic League (now the United Rugby Championship) as full-time teams rather than ad hoc selections of club players. Therefore, the best Irish players no longer played in the AIL. In 2004 the IRFU proposed scrapping the All-Ireland League and reintroducing a provincial league system in 2005–06 which would act as qualifiers for a curtailed three division AIL structure in the second half of the season, but this model did not receive the support of clubs or rugby pundits.[10][11] In 2007 the IRFU agreed that the structure of the All-Ireland League would remain as three divisions with 16 clubs each for seasons 2008–09 and 2009–10. In 2009–10, division 1 was split into 1A and 1B with eight teams in each as a trial and then continued in season 2010–11.[12] In 2011–12 division 1A and 1B had 10 clubs each and divisions 2 and 3 were reformatted as divisions 2A and 2B with 16 clubs in each division.[12]

Previous winners

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1990/91-1999/00

Season Title   Champion Score   Runner-up Venue Attendance Ref
1990–91 1st Title Cork Constitution 9-3 Garryowen [13][14]
1991–92 1st Title Garryowen 15-11 Cork Constitution [15][16][17]
1992–93 1st Title Young Munster 17-14 St Mary's College [18][19][20]
1993–94 2nd Title Garryowen 9-3 Blackrock College RFC [21][22][23]
1994–95 1st Title Shannon 16-13 Instonians [24][25]
1995–96 2nd Title Shannon 37-12 Garryowen [26][27]
1996–97 3rd Title Shannon 28-15 Old Crescent RFC [28][29][30][31]
1997–98 4th Title Shannon 15-9 Garryowen [32][33]
1998–99 2nd Title Cork Constitution(after Extra Time) 11-6 Garryowen [34][35][36][37]
1999–00 1st Title St Mary's College 25-22 Lansdowne Rugby Club [38][39]

2000/01-2008/09

Season Title   Champion Score   Runner-up Venue Attendance Ref
2000–01 1st Title Dungannon 46-12 Cork Constitution [40][41]
2001–02 5th Title Shannon 21-17 Cork Constitution [42][43]
2002–03 1st Title Ballymena 28-18 Clontarf [44][45]
2003–04 6th Title Shannon 22-16 Cork Constitution [46][47]
2004–05 7th Title Shannon 25-20 Belfast Harlequins [48][49]
2005–06 8th Title Shannon 30-3 Clontarf [50][51]
2006–07 3rd Title Garryowen 16-15 Cork Constitution [52][53]
2007–08 3rd Title Cork Constitution 18-8 Garryowen [54][55]
2008–09 9th Title Shannon (after Extra Time) 19-19 Clontarf [56][57]
2009–10 4th Title Cork Constitution (after Extra Time) 17-10 St Mary's College [58][59]

2010/11-2019/20

Season Title   Champion Score   Runner-up Venue Attendance Ref
2010–11 1st Title Old Belvedere 25-19 St Mary's College [60][61]
2011–12 2nd Title St Mary's College 23-19 Young Munster [62][63]
2012–13 1st Title Lansdowne 32-25 Clontarf [64][65]
2013–14 1st Title Clontarf 27-13 Ballynahinch RFC [66][67][68]§
2014–15 2nd Title Lansdowne 18-17 Clontarf [69][70][71]
2015–16 2nd Title Clontarf 28-25 Cork Constitution [72][73][74]
2016–17 5th Title Cork Constitution 25-21 Clontarf [75]
2017–18 3rd Title Lansdowne 19-17 Cork Constitution [76]
2018–19 6th Title Cork Constitution 28-13 Clontarf [77]
2019–20 Postponed due to COVID-19

2020/21-2029/30

Season Title   Champion Score   Runner-up Venue Attendance Ref
2020–21 Postponed due to COVID-19
2021–22 3rd Title Clontarf 29-23 Terenure College [78]
2022–23 1st Title Terenure College 50-24 Clontarf [79]
2023–24 7th Title Cork Constitution 33-22 Terenure College [80]

† From season 1990–91 through to 1996–97, the team placing top of Division 1 was crowned AIL League Champion
‡ From season 1997–98, playoffs were introduced which was contested by the top four teams in Division 1 for the title of AIL League Champion; in the semi-finals the top placed team played the 4th placed team and the 2nd placed team the 3rd placed team
§ The title in 2013–14 was decided on final league position; there were no play-offs.

Club statistics

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The All-Ireland League has been historically dominated by teams from Limerick (Shannon, Garryowen, and Young Munster) who have won 13 out of 32 titles although no team from Limerick has won since 2009. Teams from Munster have won 20 out of 32.

Team Wins Runners Up Finals Winning Seasons Runners Up Last Win
Shannon 9 0 9 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09 2008–09
Cork Constitution 7 7 14 1990–91, 1998–99, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2023–24 1991–92, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2015–16, 2017–18 2023–24
Garryowen 3 5 8 1991–92, 1993–94, 2006–07 1990–91, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2007–08 2006–07
Clontarf 3 8 11 2013–14, 2015–16, 2021–22 2002–03, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2022–23 2021–22
Lansdowne 3 1 4 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18 1999–00 2017–18
St Mary's College 2 3 5 1999–2000, 2011–12 1992–93, 2009–10, 2010–11 2011–12
Terenure 1 2 3 2022–23 2021–22, 2023–24 2022–23
Old Belvedere 1 0 1 2010–11 2010–11
Young Munster 1 1 2 1992–93 2011–12 1992–93
Ballymena 1 0 1 2002–03 2002–03
Dungannon 1 0 1 2000–01 2000–01
Belfast Harlequins 0 1 1 2004–05
Blackrock 0 1 1 1993–94
Instonians 0 1 1 1994–95
Ballynahinch RFC 0 1 1 2013-14

Teams (2024-25)

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Division 1A

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Location of teams in the 2024-25 All-Ireland League Division 1A
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Ballynahinch Ballynahinch Ballymacarn Park 1,000
City of Armagh Armagh Palace Grounds 1,000
Clontarf Dublin (Clontarf) Castle Avenue 3,200
Cork Constitution Cork (Ballintemple) Temple Hill 1,000
Garryowen Limerick (Dooradoyle) Dooradoyle 1,500
Lansdowne Dublin (Ballsbridge) Aviva Stadium (Back Pitch) 1,000
St Mary's College Dublin (Templeogue) Templeville Road 4,000
Terenure College Dublin (Terenure) Lakelands Park 3,000
UCD Dublin (Belfield) UCD Bowl 3,000
Young Munster Limerick (Rosbrien) Tom Clifford Park 1,000

Division 1B

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Location of teams in the 2024-25 All-Ireland League Division 1B
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Blackrock College Dublin (Blackrock) Stradbrook Road 4,000
Dublin University Dublin College Park 200
Highfield Cork (Bishopstown) Woodleigh Park 4,000
Naas Naas Forenaughts 3,000
Nenagh Ormond Nenagh New Ormond Park 1,000
Old Belvedere Dublin (Ballsbridge) Anglesea Road 1,000
Old Wesley Dublin (Donnybrook) Donnybrook Stadium 7,000
Queen's University Belfast Dub Lane 1,000
Shannon Limerick Thomond Park 25,600
UCC Cork (Mardyke) Mardyke Arena 5,000

Division 2A

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Location of teams in the 2024-25 All-Ireland League Division 2A
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Ballymena Antrim Eaton Park 1,000
Banbridge Banbridge Rifle Park 1,000
Buccaneers Athlone Dubarry Park 10,000
Cashel Cashel Spafield 2,500
Galway Corinthians Galway (Castlegar) Corinthian Park 1,000
Greystones Greystones Dr Hickey Park 1,000
Instonians Belfast Shawsbridge Sports Complex 1,000
MU Barnhall Leixlip Parsonstown 1,000
Navan Navan Balreask Old 4,000
Old Crescent Limerick (Rosbrien) Rosbrien 4,000

Division 2B

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Location of teams in the 2024-25 All-Ireland League Division 2B
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Clogher Valley Fivemiletown The Cran 1,000
Dungannon Dungannon Stevenson Park 1,000
Galwegians Galway (Renmore) Crowley Park 2,000
Malahide Malahide Estuary Road 1,000
Malone Belfast Gibson Park 1,000
Skerries Skerries Holmpatrick 1,000
Sligo Strandhill Hamilton Park 1,000
Rainey Magherafelt Hatrick Park 1,000
UL Bohemians Limerick Thomond Park
Annacotty
26,500
1,000
Wanderers Dublin (Ballsbridge) Merrion Road 1,000

Division 2C

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Location of teams in the 2024-25 All-Ireland League Division 2C
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Ballyclare Ballyclare The Cloughan 1,000
Belfast Harlequins Belfast Deramore Park 1,000
Bruff Bruff Kilballyowen Park 2,000
Clonmel Clonmel Ard Gaoithe 4,000
Dolphin Cork (Ballyphehane) Musgrave Park 8,008
Enniscorthy Wexford Ross Road 1,000
Midleton Midleton Towns Park 400
Monkstown Sandymount Sydney Parade 1,000
Omagh Academicals Omagh Thomas Mellon Playing Fields 1,000
Tullamore Tullamore Spollanstown 1,000

Sponsorship

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The All-Ireland League was not sponsored in the initial season, but was sponsored for six years by Insurance Corporation of Ireland.[81][82][83] The League was sponsored by Allied Irish Banks from 1998 to 2010,[84][85][86] Ulster Bank from 2010 to 2019,[87][88] 2018/19 season was not sponsored and Energia since the 2019–20 season.[89]

Season Sponsor
1990-1991 No Sponsor
1991-1998 Insurance Corporation of Ireland
1998-2010 Allied Irish Banks
2010-2019 Ulster Bank
2018-2019 No Sponsor
2019-Present Energia

See also

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References

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  1. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_20932.php[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Energia Mens Regulations 2024-25" (PDF). irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  3. ^ Irish Times. (1990). New League structure is exciting challenge, 17 September, Sport, page A6
  4. ^ Irish Times. (1991). On Rugby: All-Ireland League highlight of the season, 30 April, page 18
  5. ^ Irish Times. (1995). Imperative for Ireland that AIL continues, 10 October, page 16
  6. ^ Sunday Independent. (1994). Insurance Corporation AIL, 10 April, Sport, page 22L
  7. ^ Irish Examiner. (1995). AIL Tables, 3 April, Sports, page 16
  8. ^ Sunday Independent. (1996). Insurance Corporation League, 28 April, Sport page 8
  9. ^ Irish Independent. (2000). Top clubs facing choice over season's start time, 15 December, Sport, page 21
  10. ^ Irish Times. Rugby News: Existing format of AIL to be scrapped, 21 February, Sport Supplement, page B3
  11. ^ Irish Independent. (2004) IRFU reveal blueprint to overhaul club structures, 22 February, Sport, page 2
  12. ^ a b Irish Times. (2010). Rugby News: New Format for All-Ireland League, 29 July, page 22
  13. ^ Sunday Independent. (1991). Con-gratulations: Garryowen 3 pts Constitution 9 pts, 27 January, Sport 3, page 33
  14. ^ Irish Examiner (1991). Conqurerors: Garryowen 3 Cork Constitution 9, 28 January, page 20
  15. ^ Limerick Leader (1992). Simply the best!: Cork Constitution 11 Garryowen 15, 24 February, page 1
  16. ^ Irish Independent. (1992). In a league of their own: Dooradoyle delight as Garryowen celebrate finest hour, 24 February, Sport, page 8
  17. ^ Irish Times. (1992). Honours-laden Garryowen enjoy greatest hour, 24 February, page 17
  18. ^ Irish Independent. (1993). Munster's set for the mother of all parties, 15 February, Sport, page 10
  19. ^ Irish Examiner. (1993). Glory, Glory Munsters: St Mary's College 14 Young Munster 17, 15 February, Sports, page 6
  20. ^ Irish Times. (1993). The day Young Munster took Dublin by storm: St Mary's Col 14 Young Munster 17, 15 February, page 13
  21. ^ Sunday Independent. (1994). 'Rock left to sing the blues: Garryowen 9 Blackrock 3, 10 April, Sport, page 22L
  22. ^ Sunday Independent. (1994). Garryowen weather storm to snatch league glory, 10 April, Sport, page 22L
  23. ^ Irish Times. (1994). Garryowen deserve emotional victory, 11 April, Sport, page A6
  24. ^ Irish Examiner (1995). Shannon supreme: Shannon 16, Instonians 13, 3 April, Sports, page 16
  25. ^ Irish Times. (1995). Shannon celebrate with unbeaten record: Shannon 16 Instonians 13, 3 April, Sport, page A6
  26. ^ Sunday Independent. (1996). Munsters spoil party: Garryowen 12 Young Munster 37, 28 April, Sport, 1S
  27. ^ Limerick Leader. (1996). Tears of joy as Shannon take it, 29 April, page 11
  28. ^ Limerick Leader. (1997). A league of their own, 7 April, Leadersport, page 1
  29. ^ Limerick Leader. (1997). The Cup that floweth over!: Shannon 28 Old Crescent 15, 7 April, pages 14-15
  30. ^ Irish Times. (1997). Shannon spirit flows to victory: Shannon 28 Old Crescent 15, 7 April, Sport, page A7
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  33. ^ Irish Independent. (1998). Rugby: Shannon goes forth in the style of true champions, 27 April, Sports Supplement, page 7
  34. ^ Sunday Independent. (1999). Rugby: Con go extra yard - Garryowen pat the penalty for missed opportunities, 2 May, Sport, page 23
  35. ^ Irish Times. (1999). A tired Bradley makes history, 3 May, page A7
  36. ^ Irish Examiner. (1999). Constitution bravehearts dig deepest in marathon, 3 May, Sports, page 22
  37. ^ "100 Years - All Ireland League". 27 August 2022.
  38. ^ Irish Times. (2000). Brennan enjoys a choking release, 22 May, Sport, page A7
  39. ^ Sunday Independent. (2000). Rugby: Saints get their reward - St Mary's can celebrate league title despite mediocre performance, St Mary's College 25 Lansdowne 22, 21 May, Sport, page S2
  40. ^ Sunday Independent. (2001). Dungannon deliver: Dungannon 46 Cork Constitution 12, 27 May, Sport, page S1
  41. ^ Irish Times. (2001). Rugby: All-Ireland Leagur Final - Dungannon prove class act, Dungannon 46 Cork Constitution 12, 28 May, Sport, page 5
  42. ^ Irish Times. (2001). Rugby: Shannon set standard again - Shannon 21 Cork Constitution 17, 6 May, Sport, page A5
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  44. ^ Irish Times. (2003). All-Ireland League First Division Final: Dream Topping try tops it off nicely, Clontarf 18 Ballymena 28, 12 May, Sport, page A5
  45. ^ Sunday Independent. (2003). Rugby: That old black magic - Ballymena 28 Clontarf 18, 11 May, Sport, page 14
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  48. ^ Irish Times. (2005). Rugby, All-Ireland League, Division One Final - Shannon keep winning habit - Shannon 25 Belfast Harlequins 20, 9 May, Sport, page 110
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  52. ^ Irish Times. (2007). Rugby News: All-Ireland League Division One Final - Hickey secures title for Garryowen, Garryowen 16 Cork Constitution 15, 7 May, Sports Supplement, page 5
  53. ^ Sunday Independent. (2007). Kicking Hickey hold his nerve, 6 May, Sport, page 10
  54. ^ Irish Times. (2008). All-Ireland League Final: Manning ensures Constitution finish job - Cork Constitution 18 Garryowen 8, 12 May, Sport Supplement, page A6
  55. ^ Irish Independent. (2008). Manning banishes demons for Cork Con: Cork Con 18 Garryowen 8, 12 May, Sport, page 21
  56. ^ Irish Times. (2009). Shannon have last say with first try - Shannon 19 Clontarf 19 (after extra time: two tries each, but Shannon win for scoring first try), 11 May, Sports Supplement, page A5
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  60. ^ Irish Independent. (2011). Mary's falter at final hurdle: Old Belvedere 25 St Mary's 19, 4 April, Sport, page 23
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  83. ^ Irish Times. (1993). ICI extends its AIL sponsorship to 1997, 1 September, page 17
  84. ^ Irish Times. (1997). Clubs to reap benefit of £1.3 million boost, 10 September, page 21
  85. ^ Rugby News: AIB to give €5m and five years to clubs, 26 September, page 26
  86. ^ Irish Times. (2010). AIB bring to an end League deal, 6 February, Sport, page A8
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  88. ^ "IRFU and Ulster Bank Announce New Community Rugby Partnership". SportsNews Ireland. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  89. ^ "IRFU secures new five-year sponsorship deal for All-Ireland League". The42. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
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