Ulster Senior League (rugby union)

The Ulster Senior League, currently known as the Ulster Rugby Premiership, is a rugby union competition for senior clubs in the Irish province of Ulster. It was formed by the then Northern Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union in October 1890.[1] 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. This later gave way to a single-division league.

For the 2015-16 season, the Ulster Senior League was revamped as the Ulster Championship League. To avoid the fixture congestion caused by playing in two competitions, Ulster's ten All-Ireland League clubs were divided into two sections, based on last season's league standings - Ballynahinch, Armagh, Ballymena, City of Derry and Malone in Section 1, and Queen's University, Belfast Harlequins, Rainey Old Boys, Banbridge and Dungannon in Section 2 - with each team playing just four matches.[2] For the 2016-17 season it was revamped again as the SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership, sponsored by System Operator for Northern Ireland.[3]

The winners receive the Stevenson Shield.[4]

Membership 2023-24

Division 1

Division 2

Winners

1890s
  • 1890/91 Queen's College Belfast
  • 1891/92 NIFC
  • 1892/93 NIFC
  • 1893/94 NIFC
  • 1894/95 NIFC
  • 1895/96 NIFC
  • 1896/97 NIFC
  • 1897/98 NIFC
  • 1898/99 NIFC

1900s

1910s

1920s
  • 1919/20 Queen's University
  • 1920/21 NIFC
  • 1921/22 Queen's University
  • 1922/23 Queen's University
  • 1923/24 Queen's University
  • 1924/25 Instonians
  • 1925/26 Instonians
  • 1926/27 Instonians/NIFC
  • 1927/28 Instonians
  • 1928/29 Civil Service

1930s
  • 1929/30 Bangor
  • 1930/31-1944/45 Not played

1940s
  • 1945/46 NIFC
  • 1946/47 Queen's University
  • 1947/48 Queen's University
  • 1948/49 Queen's University

1950s
  • 1949/50 Queen's University
  • 1950/51 Collegians/Instonians
  • 1951/52 Collegians
  • 1952/53 Instonians/Queen's University
  • 1953/54 Instonians/Queen's University
  • 1954/55 NIFC
  • 1955/56 Collegians
  • 1956/57 Instonians/Queen's University
  • 1957/58 Instonians
  • 1958/59 NIFC

1960s
  • 1959/60 Instonians
  • 1960/61 Dungannon
  • 1961/62 Collegians
  • 1962/63 C.I.Y.M.S.
  • 1963/64 Queen's University
  • 1964/65 Dungannon
  • 1965/66 NIFC
  • 1966/67 Queen's University
  • 1967/68 Dungannon
  • 1968/69 Malone

1970s
  • 1969/70 Civil Service
  • 1970/71 C.I.Y.M.S.
  • 1971/72 C.I.Y.M.S.
  • 1972/73 Ballymena/C.I.Y.M.S.
  • 1973/74 C.I.Y.M.S.
  • 1974/75 Bangor
  • 1975/76 Ballymena
  • 1976/77 Bangor
  • 1977/78 Ballymena
  • 1978/79 Ballymena

1980s
  • 1979/80 Queen's University
  • 1980/81 Bangor
  • 1981/82 Bangor
  • 1982/83 Bangor
  • 1983/84 Ards
  • 1984/85 Instonians
  • 1985/86 Ballymena
  • 1986/87 Instonians
  • 1987/88 Bangor
  • 1988/89 Ballymena

1990s
  • 1989/90 Ballymena
  • 1990/91 Dungannon
  • 1991/92 NIFC
  • 1992/93 Malone
  • 1993/94
  • 1994/95
  • 1995/96 Portadown
  • 1996/97 Ballymena
  • 1997/98 Ballymena
  • 1998/99

2000s

2010s

2020s

See also

Sources
  1. Belfast Evening Telegraph, 22 October 1890
  2. Ronnie Ingram, "All change as Ulster League gets under way", Belfast Telegraph, 28 August 2015
  3. Jonathan Bradley, "Club game in for exciting revamp with SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership all set for lift-off", Belfast Telegraph, 23 August 2016
  4. 04:04:14 - Ballynahinch retain the Stevenson Shield
  5. "BBC Sport 2002-03 season page". BBC News. 2003-08-30. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  6. "BBC Sport 2003-04 season page". BBC News. 2003-08-30. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  7. "BBC Sport 2004-05 season page". BBC News. 2004-10-09. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  8. "BBC Sport 2005-06 Ballymena secure share of title in 2005-06". BBC News. 2005-11-18. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  9. "BBC report of 2006-07 title decider". BBC News. 2007-04-28. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  10. "BBC Sport report of Belfast Harlequins title win in 2007-08". BBC News. 2007-12-29. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  11. "BBC Sport Hinch win first title 2008-09". BBC News. 2009-01-03. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  12. Ballynahinch RFC Club History
  13. 04:04:14 - Ballynahinch retain the Stevenson Shield
  14. Ballymena RFC
  15. "Armagh claim first senior league title as AIL safety is closer for Hinch and Bangor". Belfast Telegraph. 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  16. Ulster Rugby
  17. Ulster Rugby
  18. Belfast Telegraph
  19. Northern Ireland World
  20. Belfast Telegraph
  21. News Letter
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