Annual Irish rugby union competition
The Ulster Schools' Challenge Cup is an annual competition involving schools affiliated to the
Ulster Branch of the
Irish Rugby Football Union . The Schools' Cup has the distinction of being the world's second-oldest rugby competition, having been competed for every year since 1876.
[1] The trophy itself is a three-handled silver cup with a plinth mounted on a large shield.
Methodist College Belfast have won the most titles with 37 outright wins.
[2]
Format
The Schools' Cup was reformatted in 2003/04. Previously teams defeated in the first round would enter the Subsidiary Shield competition, teams losing in later rounds would find their season over. All entrants, except those who drew byes, entered in the first round of the competition. It was felt that this could lead to significant mismatches. The reformatting sought to avoid this and to extend the amount of meaningful rugby played by school teams.[
citation needed ]
The first round was changed to act as a qualifying stage for weaker teams and first round losers entered a new Schools' Trophy competition.[
citation needed ]
The bulk of the teams entered the competition in the second round where they were joined by the first-round qualifiers. Teams losing at this stage are entered into another new competition, the Schools' Bowl.
In the third round, four seeded teams entered the fray. Third-round losers entered the Subsidiary Shield, renamed the Schools' Shield. The Subsidiary Shield was first introduced in 1971. It did not have its own trophy until 1980 when the Headmaster of Grosvenor High School and then Ulster Branch President Ken Reid presented the Grosvenor Shield.[
citation needed ]
The remaining teams contest for the Schools' Cup proper, the semi-finals and final of which are played at
Ravenhill Stadium , the Ulster Branch HQ and home of the
Ulster side.
The competition format was changed again in 2005/06. The first round was a round-robin competition involving three teams. The winner from this joined eleven other teams in the second round. The six winners from the second round joined ten more teams in the third round; the second round losers competed for the Schools' Trophy.[
citation needed ]
The eight third-round winners proceeded to the fourth round where they were joined by eight seeded teams. The third-round losers competed for the Schools' Bowl. The fourth round proceeded as per the old third round.[
citation needed ]
The increased number of competitions means that schools which are very unlikely to win the main competition have more competitive rugby and an opportunity to win a trophy.[
citation needed ]
History
The first winners in 1876 were the
Royal School, Armagh . When the Cup no longer had room to record the winners on it, the Cup was mounted on a wooden shield to which plaques were attached. In the centenary year of the competition after the 1976 final, the governors of
Methodist College presented a new shield, as the original had no more room to record the winners. The Royal School won in 1977, thus claiming the place at the top of the new shield. The first wooden shield is on exhibit at the
Ulster Branch offices at
Ravenhill Stadium .
The first final to be played at Ravenhill was in 1924. Before that, finals were played at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society grounds at Balmoral, the Ulster Sports Club grounds at Cross Parade in Belfast, and one final was played at the
Linfield Football Club ground at
Windsor Park .
[3]
A total of seventeen schools have won the trophy at least once.
The
St. Patrick's Day final is televised live on
BBC Northern Ireland .[
citation needed ]
List of finals
Note: Prior to 1942 drawn finals were always replayed. In 1942 it was decided if the final was drawn, a replay would only take place if both schools agreed. It has since become the rule that replays are never held and the trophy is automatically shared. Shares occurred in 1942, 1953, 1954, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964 & 1996.
Key
(R)
Replay
*
Trophy shared
†
After extra time
Ulster Schools' Cup Winners
Year
Winners
Score
Runners-up
Venue
1876
The Royal School, Armagh
3-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1877
The Royal School, Armagh
15-0
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1878
Methodist College Belfast
8-0
Royal School Dungannon
RUAS Grounds
1879
The Royal School, Armagh
6-0
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1880
The Royal School, Armagh
3-0
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1881
The Royal School, Armagh
6-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1882
Methodist College Belfast
3-0
Derry Academy
RUAS Grounds
1883
The Royal School, Armagh
8-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1884
Coleraine Academical Institution
3-0
Foyle College
RUAS Grounds
1885
The Royal School, Armagh
5-0
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1886
Coleraine Academical Institution
5-0 †
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1887
Coleraine Academical Institution
11-0
Galway Grammar School
RUAS Grounds
1888
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
3-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1889
Methodist College Belfast
3-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1890
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
16-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1891
Methodist College Belfast
3-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1892
Methodist College Belfast
8-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1893
Methodist College Belfast
3-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1894
Coleraine Academical Institution
3-0
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1895
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
6-5
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1896
Methodist College Belfast
5-3
Derry Academy
RUAS Grounds
1897
Coleraine Academical Institution
6-0
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1898
Campbell College
7-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1899
Methodist College Belfast
21-0
Portora Royal School
RUAS Grounds
1900
Foyle College
3-3 †
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1900 (R)
Foyle College
6-0 †
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1901
Methodist College Belfast
6-3
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ulster Sports Ground
[4]
1902
Methodist College Belfast
38-0
Portora Royal School
RUAS Grounds
1903
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
28-0
The Royal School, Armagh
RUAS Grounds
1904
Methodist College Belfast
11-0
Portora Royal School
RUAS Grounds
1905
Portora Royal School
16-5
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1906
Portora Royal School
8-5
Foyle College
RUAS Grounds
1907
Royal School Dungannon
5-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1908
Portora Royal School
52-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1909
Portora Royal School
42-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1910
Campbell College
7-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1911
Competition not finished
[5]
1912
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
11-3
Methodist College Belfast
RUAS Grounds
1913
Campbell College
10-3
Foyle College
RUAS Grounds
1914
Methodist College Belfast
13-0
Foyle College
RUAS Grounds
1915
Foyle College
5-3
The Royal School, Armagh
RUAS Grounds
1916
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
3-0
Campbell College
RUAS Grounds
1917
Campbell College
9-3
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1918
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
24-5
Royal School Dungannon
RUAS Grounds
1919
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
8-0
Campbell College
RUAS Grounds
1920
Coleraine Academical Institution
3-0
Campbell College
RUAS Grounds
1921
Campbell College
8-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
RUAS Grounds
1922
Campbell College
10-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Windsor Park
1923
Campbell College
23-0
Portora Royal School
RUAS Grounds
1924
Campbell College
16-3
Ballymena Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1925
Coleraine Academical Institution
13-3
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1926
Campbell College
14-14 †
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1926 (R)
Campbell College
11-3
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1927
Methodist College Belfast
22-9
The Royal School, Armagh
Ravenhill Stadium
1928
Methodist College Belfast
24-3
Ballymena Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1929
Methodist College Belfast
18-5
Portora Royal School
Ravenhill Stadium
1930
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
14-5
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1931
Campbell College
12-5
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1932
Campbell College
11-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1933
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
8-0
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1934
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
18-0
Lurgan College
Ravenhill Stadium
1935
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
6-6 †
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1935 (R)
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
14-0
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1936
Methodist College Belfast
12-3
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1937
Methodist College Belfast
5-3
Belfast Royal Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1938
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
7-6
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1939
Coleraine Academical Institution
16-5
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1940
Portora Royal School
6-3 †
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1941
Portora Royal School
11-3
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1942
Portora Royal School
5-5*
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1943
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
8-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1944
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
10-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1945
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
5-0
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1946
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
8-3
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1947
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
7-3
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1948
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
0-0 †
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1948 (R)
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
11-3
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1949
Methodist College Belfast
12-3
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1950
Campbell College
5-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1951
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
6-0
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1952
Methodist College Belfast
15-0
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1953
Campbell College
0-0*
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1954
Campbell College
10-10*
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1955
Campbell College
6-5
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1956
Campbell College
6-3
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1957
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
5-3
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1958
Annadale Grammar School
5-0
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1959
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
8-0
Royal School Dungannon
Ravenhill Stadium
1960
Campbell College
0-0*
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1961
Campbell College
16-6
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1962
Belfast Royal Academy
6-6*
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1963
Belfast Royal Academy
8-8*
Rainey Endowed School
Ravenhill Stadium
1964
Belfast Royal Academy
0-0*
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1965
Campbell College
14-0
Rainey Endowed School
Ravenhill Stadium
1966
Campbell College
3-0
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1967
Rainey Endowed School
9-6
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1968
Campbell College
13-0
Belfast Royal Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1969
Bangor Grammar School
6-3
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1970
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
11-3
Rainey Endowed School
Ravenhill Stadium
1971
Belfast Boys' Model School
14-3
Ballymena Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1972
Ballymena Academy
13-9
Belfast Royal Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1973
Ballyclare High School
13-8
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1974
Methodist College Belfast
7-6
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1975
Methodist College Belfast
18-7
Royal School Dungannon
Ravenhill Stadium
1976
Methodist College Belfast
21-3
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1977
The Royal School, Armagh
12-9
Regent House Grammar School
Ravenhill Stadium
1978
Bangor Grammar School
17-9
Annadale Grammar School
Ravenhill Stadium
1979
Methodist College Belfast
10-7
Bangor Grammar School
Ravenhill Stadium
1980
Campbell College
3-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1981
Ballymena Academy
12-3
Bangor Grammar School
Ravenhill Stadium
1982
Rainey Endowed School
6-4
Ballymena Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1983
Grosvenor Grammar School
10-7
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1984
Methodist College Belfast
13-9
Belfast Royal Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1985
Bangor Grammar School
12-3
Omagh Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
1986
Bangor Grammar School
17-4
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1987
Methodist College Belfast
10-9
Bangor Grammar School
Ravenhill Stadium
1988
Bangor Grammar School
13-4
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1989
Methodist College Belfast
26-12
Wallace High School
Ravenhill Stadium
1990
Methodist College Belfast
15-0
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
1991
Methodist College Belfast
23-7
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1992
Coleraine Academical Institution
35-21
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
1993
Campbell College
46-13
Dalriada School
Ravenhill Stadium
1994
Regent House Grammar School
8-3
Wallace High School
Ravenhill Stadium
1995
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
18-9
Bangor Grammar School
Ravenhill Stadium
1996
Methodist College Belfast
9-9 *
Regent House Grammar School
Ravenhill Stadium
1997
Belfast Royal Academy
12-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1998
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
57-3
Coleraine Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
1999
Campbell College
18-7
Ballymena Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
2000
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
24-6
Ballymena Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
2001
[6]
Methodist College Belfast
8-6
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
2002
[7]
Campbell College
12-10
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
2003
[8]
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
23-10
Wallace High School
Ravenhill Stadium
2004
[9]
The Royal School, Armagh
14-5
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
2005
[10]
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
12-10
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
2006
[11]
Methodist College Belfast
11-5
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
2007
[12]
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
15-0
Wallace High School
Ravenhill Stadium
2008
[13]
Methodist College Belfast
36-0
Regent House Grammar School
Ravenhill Stadium
2009
[14]
Methodist College Belfast
16-0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
2010
[15]
Ballymena Academy
10-7
Belfast Royal Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
2011
[16]
Campbell College
18-11
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
2012
[17]
Methodist College Belfast
22-6
Ballyclare High School
Ravenhill Stadium
2013
[18]
[19]
Methodist College Belfast
20-5
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Ravenhill Stadium
2014
[20]
[21]
Methodist College Belfast
27-12
Sullivan Upper School
Ravenhill Stadium
2015
[22]
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
14-10
Wallace High School
Ravenhill Stadium
2016
[23]
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
13-3
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
2017
[24]
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
12-8
Methodist College Belfast
Ravenhill Stadium
2018
[2]
Campbell College
19-13
The Royal School, Armagh
Ravenhill Stadium
2019
Methodist College Belfast
45-17
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
2020
[25]
The Royal School, Armagh
Not played*
Wallace High School
—
2021
Competition cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Methodist College Belfast
20-17
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
2023
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
22-17
Campbell College
Ravenhill Stadium
2024
[26]
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
21-14
Ballymena Academy
Ravenhill Stadium
Points values
The values for scores in rugby union have changed throughout the history of the competition. This table summarises them.
Change in scoring
[27]
Date
Try
Conversion
Penalty
Dropped goal
Goal from mark
1876–1885
1 try
1 goal
1 goal
1 goal
—
Match decided by a majority of goals, or if the number of goals is equal by a majority of tries
1886–1891
1 point
2 points
3 points
3 points
—
1891–1894
2 points
3 points
3 points
4 points
4 points
1894–1904
3 points
2 points
3 points
4 points
4 points
1905–1947
3 points
2 points
3 points
4 points
3 points
1948–1970
3 points
2 points
3 points
3 points
3 points
1971–1977
4 points
2 points
3 points
3 points
3 points
1977–1991
4 points
2 points
3 points
3 points
—
1992–present
5 points
2 points
3 points
3 points
—
Records
Results by school
Information as provided by Schools' Cup Final programme (various years)
Subsidiary competitions
Schools' Shield
Schools' Bowl
Schools' Trophy
(*) - Cambridge House fielded an ineligible player in the final: the Trophy was awarded to Portadown College.
[66]
See also
Sources
External links
National teams
URC teams Competitions
European National Provincial leagues Provincial senior cups Provincial junior cups Intervarsity Schools senior cups Schools junior cups
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