Ulster Schools' Cup
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.
| Sport | Rugby Union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1876 |
| No. of teams | 33 (season 2017–18) |
| Venue(s) | Kingspan Stadium (final) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Royal Belfast Academical Institution (33rd title outright, 4 shared) |
| Most titles | Methodist College Belfast (37 titles outright, 2 shared) |
| TV partner(s) | BBC (final) |
| Related competitions | Medallion Shield |
| Official website | Ulster Rugby Danske Bank Schools Cup |
| Notes | |
| Also includes subsidiary competitions - Schools' Shield, Schools' Bowl and Schools' Trophy | |
Methodist College Belfast have won the most titles with 39 wins – 37 outright wins and 2 shared.[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.
The first round was changed to act as a qualifying stage for weaker teams and first round losers entered a new Schools' Trophy competition.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
Points values
The values for scores in rugby union have changed throughout the history of the competition. This table summarises them.
| 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
- Most consecutive wins: 7, Royal Belfast Academical Institution 1942-48
- Greatest winning margin in final: 54 points, 1998: Royal Belfast Academical Institution 57-3 Coleraine Academical Institution
- Highest aggregate score in final: 62 points, 2019: Methodist College Belfast 45-17 Campbell College
Results by school
Information as provided by Schools' Cup Final programme (various years)
| School | Location | Wins | First final won | Last final won | Runners-Up | Last final lost | Total final appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methodist College Belfast | Belfast | 37 | 1878 | 2022 | 26 | 2017 | 65 |
| Royal Belfast Academical Institution | Belfast | 33 | 1888 | 2023 | 21 | 2013 | 58 |
| Campbell College | Belfast | 24 | 1898 | 2018 | 16 | 2023 | 43 |
| Coleraine Academical Institution | Coleraine | 9 | 1884 | 1992 | 24 | 1998 | 33 |
| The Royal School, Armagh | Armagh | 9 | 1876 | 2004 | 4 | 2018 | 14 |
| Portora Royal School | Enniskillen | 6 | 1905 | 1941 | 5 | 1929 | 11 |
| Bangor Grammar School | Bangor | 5 | 1969 | 1988 | 4 | 1995 | 9 |
| Ballymena Academy | Ballymena | 3 | 1972 | 2010 | 6 | 2000 | 9 |
| Foyle College | Derry | 2 | 1900 | 1915 | 4 | 1914 | 6 |
| Rainey Endowed School | Magherafelt | 2 | 1967 | 1982 | 2 | 1970 | 5 |
| Belfast Royal Academy | Belfast | 1 | 1997 | 1997 | 5 | 2010 | 9 |
| Royal School Dungannon | Dungannon | 1 | 1907 | 1907 | 4 | 1975 | 5 |
| Regent House Grammar School | Newtownards | 1 | 1994 | 1994 | 2 | 2008 | 4 |
| Annadale Grammar School | Belfast | 1 | 1958 | 1958 | 1 | 1978 | 2 |
| Ballyclare High School | Ballyclare | 1 | 1973 | 1973 | 1 | 2012 | 2 |
| Belfast Boys' Model School | Belfast | 1 | 1971 | 1971 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Grosvenor High School | Belfast | 1 | 1983 | 1983 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Wallace High School | Lisburn | 0 | — | — | 5 | 2015 | 6 |
| Londonderry Academical Institution | Derry | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1896 | 2 |
| Dalriada School | Ballymoney | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1993 | 1 |
| Galway Grammar School | Galway | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1887 | 1 |
| Lurgan College | Lurgan | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1934 | 1 |
| Omagh Academy | Omagh | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1985 | 1 |
| Sullivan Upper School | Holywood | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2014 | 1 |
Subsidiary competitions
The Grosvenor Shield
Subsidiary Shield 1971–2003, Schools' Shield 2004–
| * | Trophy shared |
Schools' Bowl
| * | Trophy shared |
Schools' Trophy
(*) - Cambridge House fielded an ineligible player in the final: the Trophy was awarded to Portadown College.[65]
See also
Sources
- "Past Winners of Ulster Schools' Cup". BBC Sport. 14 March 2003. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- "Schools Cup final: Campbell College 19-13 RS Armagh". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- Belfast Newsletter. 17 March 1922. p. 2.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - Belfast Newsletter. 23 March 1901. p. 3.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - "How bizarre twist meant the 1911 Schools' Cup was the only final not to be played until this season". Belfasttelegraph.
- "Methody win rugby's Schools' Cup". BBC Sport. 2 April 2001. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "Campbell surprise Methody". BBC Sport. 18 March 2002. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "Princely victory by RBAI". BBC Sport. 17 March 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "Armagh win the Schools' Cup". BBC Sport. 16 March 2004. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "RBAI in Schools' Cup triumph". BBC Sport. 17 March 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "MCB 11–5 Campbell College". BBC Sport. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "RBAI beat Wallace in 2007 final". BBC Sport. 19 March 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
- "Methody secure Schools' Cup win". BBC Sport. 17 March 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
- "MCB 16–0 RBAI". BBC Sport. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "Ballymena Academy 10–7 BRA". BBC Sport. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- "Campbell clinch Schools' Cup win". BBC Sport. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
- "Ballyclare High 6–22 Methodist College". BBC Sport. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
- "Methody beat Inst in Schools' Cup final". BBC Sport. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- "Methodist College remain kings of Ulster Schools' Rugby". Belfast Newsletter. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- "Methody beat Sullivan Upper in Schools' Cup final". BBC Sport. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- "Three in a row for MCB in Danske Bank Schools' Cup". Belfast Newsletter. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- "Schools' Cup Final: RBAI 14–10 Wallace". BBC Sport. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- "RBAI defeat Campbell in Schools' final". BBC Sport.
- "Inst history boys secure hat-trick". Belfast Telegraph. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- Irish Times
- http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/scoring.htm
- "Subsidiary Shield". Belfast Newsletter. 26 March 1973. p. 11.
- "Subsidiary Shield". Belfast Newsletter. 25 March 1974. p. 10.
- Belfast Newsletter. 15 March 1976. p. 10.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - Dromore Leader. 3 April 1986. p. 20.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - "Ballyclare lose out by two points - RBAI take the Shield". Newtownabbey Times. 24 March 1988. p. 52.
- "Portadown College secure shield success". Portadown Times. 23 March 1990. p. 52.
- "RSD in shield success". Tyrone Courier. 27 March 1991. p. 44.
- "CAI shield success". Coleraine Chronicle. 27 March 1993. p. 39.
- "CAI shield victory". Coleraine Chronicle. 8 April 1995. p. 35.
- "College fall to RBAI in Shield Final". Portadown Times. 22 March 1996. p. 55.
- "Academy fall to shield defeat". Ballymena Times. 19 March 1997. p. 40.
- Tyrone Courier. 5 April 2000. p. 66.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - "BBC Sport Subsidiary Shield 2003 record". BBC Sport. 13 March 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "BBC Sport Schools Shield 2004 record". BBC Sport. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "RBAI lift Subsidiary Shield". Belfast Newsletter. 10 March 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- "Disappointment for Coleraine Inst". Coleraine Times. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- "Belfast Telegraph report on Subsidiary Shield semi-final results 2010". Belfasttelegraph. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- "Right Royal Champions". Ulster Gazette. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- Ingram, Ronnie (25 February 2016). "Silverware joy as Banbridge Academy claim the School's Trophy". Belfast Telegraph.
- "Ballyclare High end silverware drought with Subsidiary Shield glory". Belfast Telegraph. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- "BBC Sport Schools Bowl 2004 record". BBC Sport. 26 January 2004. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "Ulster Rugby Bowl Final 2008 match report". Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- "Belfast Telegraph Ulster Rugby Bowl Final 2009 report". Belfasttelegraph. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
- "Foyle secure Schools Bowl title". Londonderry Sentinel. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- "Rainey Endowed School win Northern Bank Ulster Schools Bowl". Northern Constitution. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- "McCamphill hails academy success". Ulster Herald. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- "Foyle clinch Schools' Bowl". Londonderry Sentinel. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- "Heart-break for Academy as Foyle see out final victory". Banbridge Leader. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- "Finnerty's classy treble seals trophy for Dalriada". Belfast Telegraph. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- "Dominant Portora claims Schools' Bowl". The Impartial Reporter. 10 March 2016.
- "Ulster Schools' Trophy 2004". BBC Sport. 26 January 2004. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- "2009 Schools Trophy Final Report". Carrick Times. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- "Belfast Telegraph 2010 Schools Trophy Final Report". Belfasttelegraph. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
- "Super effort lands first 1st XV Trophy in 50 years". Impartial Reporter. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- "Trophy Success for Omagh Boys". Belfast Newsletter. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- "Banbridge Academy complete emphatic win over Portora Royal School in Ulster Schools' Trophy final". Belfast Newsletter. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- "Dungannon's late show seals Schools Trophy". Belfast Telegraph. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- "Dungannon hit a high five to retain Schools' Trophy". Belfast Telegraph. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- "Cambridge House set to be stripped of rugby title?". Ballymena Times. Johnston Publishing. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
External links
- Past winners of Ulster Schools' Cup BBC Sport, 14 March 2003
- Ulster Rugby