All-Ireland League (rugby union) explained

All-Ireland League
Pixels:150
Sport:Rugby union
Teams:50
Countrytag:Nations
Country:
    Champion:Cork Constitution (7th title)
    Tv:Sky Sports
    Season:2023–24
    Most Champs:Shannon (9 titles)

    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.

    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]

    Competition format

    The league is divided into five divisions of ten teams each. Teams play each other team in the division twice per season (once at home and once away), for a total of 18 regular-season matches.[2]

    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 end of the season, the top four teams in division 1A enter a play off semi-finals and a final for the championship.

    Promotion and relegation

    At the end of each season the bottom team in division 1A is replaced by the top team in division 1B, with the second-bottom team entering a promotion/relegation play-off with the second-placed team in 1B. The bottom two teams in 1B, 2A and 2B are relegated and replaced by the top two teams from divisions 2A, 2B and 2C respectively.

    The two teams finishing bottom of division 2C are relegated to the relevant provincial league, and replaced by the two teams finishing top of a "round robin" tournament between the four provincial league winners. The four provincial junior leagues are the Connacht Junior League, the Leinster League, the Munster Junior League and the Ulster Championship League.

    History

    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

    1990/91-1999/00

    SeasonTitle Champion Score Runner-upVenueAttendanceRef
    1990–91 1st TitleCork Constitution9-3Garryowen[13] [14] †
    1991–921st TitleGarryowen15-11Cork Constitution[15] [16] [17]
    1992–931st TitleYoung Munster17-14St Mary's College[18] [19] [20]
    1993–942nd TitleGarryowen9-3Blackrock College RFC[21] [22] [23]
    1994–951st TitleShannon16-13Instonians[24] [25]
    1995–962nd TitleShannon37-12Garryowen[26] [27]
    1996–973rd TitleShannon28-15Old Crescent RFC[28] [29] [30] [31]
    1997–984th TitleShannon15-9Garryowen[32] [33] ‡
    1998–992nd TitleCork Constitution(after Extra Time)11-6Garryowen[34] [35] [36] [37]
    1999–001st TitleSt Mary's College25-22Lansdowne Rugby Club[38] [39]
    2000/01-2008/09
    SeasonTitle Champion Score Runner-upVenueAttendanceRef
    2000–011st TitleDungannon46-12Cork Constitution[40] [41]
    2001–025th TitleShannon21-17Cork Constitution[42] [43]
    2002–031st TitleBallymena28-18Clontarf[44] [45]
    2003–046th TitleShannon22-16Cork Constitution[46] [47]
    2004–057th TitleShannon25-20Belfast Harlequins[48] [49]
    2005–068th TitleShannon30-3Clontarf[50] [51]
    2006–073rd TitleGarryowen16-15Cork Constitution[52] [53]
    2007–083rd TitleCork Constitution18-8Garryowen[54] [55]
    2008–099th TitleShannon (after Extra Time)19-19Clontarf[56] [57]
    2009–104th TitleCork Constitution (after Extra Time)17-10St Mary's College[58] [59]
    2010/11-2019/20
    SeasonTitle Champion Score Runner-upVenueAttendanceRef
    2010–111st TitleOld Belvedere25-19St Mary's College[60] [61]
    2011–122nd TitleSt Mary's College23-19Young Munster[62] [63]
    2012–131st TitleLansdowne32-25Clontarf[64] [65]
    2013–141st TitleClontarf27-13Ballynahinch RFC[66] [67] [68] §
    2014–152nd TitleLansdowne18-17Clontarf[69] [70] [71]
    2015–162nd TitleClontarf28-25Cork Constitution[72] [73] [74]
    2016–175th TitleCork Constitution25-21Clontarf[75]
    2017–183rd TitleLansdowne19-17Cork Constitution[76]
    2018–196th TitleCork Constitution28-13Clontarf[77]
    2019–20align=center colspan="7" Postponed due to COVID-19
    2020/21-2029/30
    SeasonTitle Champion Score Runner-upVenueAttendanceRef
    2020–21align=center colspan="7" Postponed due to COVID-19
    2021–223rd TitleClontarf29-23Terenure College[78]
    2022–231st TitleTerenure College50-24Clontarf[79]
    2023–247th TitleCork Constitution33-22Terenure 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

    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.

    TeamWinsRunners UpFinalsWinning SeasonsRunners UpLast Win
    Shannonalign=center 9align=center 0align=center 91994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–092008–09
    Cork Constitutionalign=center 7align=center 7align=center 141990–91, 1998–99, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2023–241991–92, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2015–16, 2017–182023–24
    Garryowenalign=center 3align=center 5align=center 81991–92, 1993–94, 2006–071990–91, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2007–082006–07
    Clontarfalign=center 3align=center 8align=center 112013–14, 2015–16, 2021–222002–03, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2022–232021–22
    Lansdownealign=center 3align=center 1align=center 42012–13, 2014–15, 2017–181999–002017–18
    St Mary's Collegealign=center 2align=center 3align=center 51999–2000, 2011–121992–93, 2009–10, 2010–112011–12
    Terenurealign=center 1align=center 2align=center 32022–232021–22, 2023–242022–23
    Old Belvederealign=center 1align=center 0align=center 12010–112010–11
    Young Munsteralign=center 1align=center 1align=center 21992–932011–121992–93
    Ballymenaalign=center 1align=center 0align=center 12002–032002–03
    Dungannonalign=center 1 align=center 0align=center 12000–012000–01
    align=center 0align=center 1align=center 12004–05
    Blackrockalign=center 0align=center 1align=center 11993–94
    Instoniansalign=center 0align=center 1align=center 11994–95
    Ballynahinch RFCalign=center 0align=center 1align=center 12023-14

    Teams

    Divisions for the 2024–25 season.as of 29 June 2024

    Division 1A

    TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
    Ballymacarn Park 1,000
    Palace Grounds 1,000
    Castle Avenue 3,200
    Temple Hill 1,000
    Dooradoyle 1,500
    Aviva Stadium (Back Pitch) 1,000
    Templeville Road 4,000
    Lakelands Park 3,000
    3,000
    Tom Clifford Park 1,000

    Division 1B

    TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
    Dublin (Blackrock) Stradbrook Road 4,000
    200
    Woodleigh Park 4,000
    Forenaughts 3,000
    New Ormond Park 1,000
    1,000
    Dublin (Donnybrook) 7,000
    Dub Lane 1,000
    Thomond Park
    Coonagh    		26,500
    1,000
    5,000

    Division 2A

    TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
    Eaton Park 1,000
    Rifle Park 1,000
    10,000
    Spafield 2,500
    Corinthian Park 1,000
    Dr Hickey Park 1,000
    Shawsbridge Sports Complex 1,000
    Parsonstown 1,000
    Balreask Old 4,000
    Rosbrien 4,000

    Division 2B

    TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
    The Cran 1,000
    Stevenson Park 1,000
    Crowley Park 2,000
    Estuary Road 1,000
    Gibson Park 1,000
    Holmpatrick 1,000
    Hamilton Park 1,000
    Hatrick Park 1,000
    26,500
    1,000
    Dublin (Ballsbridge) Merrion Road 1,000

    Division 2C

    TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
    Ballyclare The Cloughan 1,000
    Deramore Park 1,000
    Kilballyowen Park 2,000
    Ard Gaoithe 4,000
    8,008
    Ross Road 1,000
    Towns Park 400
    1,000
    Thomas Mellon Playing Fields 1,000
    Spollanstown 1,000

    Sponsorship

    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]

    SeasonSponsor
    1990-1991No Sponsor
    1991-1998Insurance Corporation of Ireland
    1998-2010Allied Irish Banks
    2010-2019Ulster Bank
    2018-2019No Sponsor
    2019-PresentEnergia

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_20932.php{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
    2. http://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic/news/20393.php Ups and Downs in AIL
    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. 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
    31. Sunday Independent. (1997). For the Record: Rugby - AIL Division 1, League Table, 13 April, Sports Extra, page 23L
    32. Irish Times. (1998). Shannon are side of the century: Shannon 15 Garryowen 9, 27 April, Sport, page A6
    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. https://corkcon.ie/cork-con-win-ail-3/#:~:text=Constitution%20won%20a%20second%20All,top%20four%20teams%20playing%20off.
    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
    43. Sunday Independent. (2002). Rugby: Shannon bank league title - Shannon 21 Cork Con 17, 5 May, Sport, page8
    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
    46. Irish Times. (2004). Rugby: AIL League Division One Final - Depth of Shannon proves the difference, Shannon 22 Cork Constitution 16, 10 May, Sport, page A8
    47. Sunday Independent. (2004). Keogh seals it for Shannon: Cork Con 16 Shannon 22, 9 May, Sport, page 11
    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
    49. Sunday Independent. (2005). Shannon survive a late scare to claim title, 8 May, Sport, page 12
    50. Sunday Independent. (2006). AIB League Finals: Clontarf blitzed by Shannon's fluent flow - Shannon 30 Clontarf 3, 14 May, Sport, page 14,
    51. Irish Times. (2006). All-Ireland League Division One Final: Shannon irresistible in full flow - Shannon 30 Clontarf 3, 15 May, Sports Supplement, page 9
    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
    57. Irish Independent. (2009). O'Donovan try draws relief for Shannon: Shannon 19 Clontarf 19 (Shannon win on first try scored), 11 May, Sport, page 28
    58. Irish Times. (2010). Rugby AIB All Ireland League Finals: Cork Constitution go the distance - Cork Constitution 17 St Mary's College 10, 10 May, Sports Supplement, page A6
    59. Irish Independent. (2010). Healy's late shoe seals Con double: Cork Con 17 St Mary's 10, 10 May, Sport, page 17
    60. Irish Independent. (2011). Mary's falter at final hurdle: Old Belvedere 25 St Mary's 19, 4 April, Sport, page 23
    61. Irish Times. (2011). Rugby Ulster Bank League: Old Belvedere make St Mary's rue slow start, 4 April, Sport, page A11
    62. Irish Times. (2012). Rugby Ulster Bank League Division One A: Another comeback sees Mary's take title - St Mary's 23 Young Munster 19, 23 April, Sports Supplement, page A6
    63. Irish Independent. (2012). Rugby: Ulster Bank AIL Division 1A - Hogan raises toast to hail Mary's spirit, St Mary's 23 Young Munster 19, 23 April, Sport, page 21
    64. Irish Independent. (2013). Ruddock hails players as Lansdowne seal deal: Lansdowne 32 Clontarf 25, 1 April, Sport, page 25
    65. Irish Examiner. (2013). Rugby: Ulster Bank League - Roche hero for Lansdowne, 1 April, Sport, page 13
    66. Irish Times. (2014). All in the scrum: Ulster Bank League - Clontarf snatch title on final day, Clontarf 27 Ballynahinch 13, 21 April, Sport, page A5
    67. Sunday Independent. (2014). AIL Division 1A: Clontarf secure maiden title as Belvo blow their chance - Clontarf 27 Ballynahinch 13, 20 April, Sport, page 4
    68. Irish Independent (2014). Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1A, League Table, 21 April, Sport, page 34
    69. Sunday Independent. (2015). AIL Division 1A: Deasy guides Lansdowne to title glory - Lansdowne 18 Clontarf 17, 10 May, Sport, page 11
    70. Irish Independent. (2015). Deasy penalty seals it for classy Lansdowne: Lansdowne 18 Clontarf 17, 11 May, Sport, page 20
    71. http://www.irishrugby.ie/club/ulsterbankleagueandcup/34531.php Deasy Delivers League Title-Winning Blow For Lansdowne
    72. Irish Independent. (2016). Rugby: Classy Carbery ensures gutsy Clontarfedge final thriller - Clontarf 28 Cork Con 25, 9 May, Sport, page 11
    73. Irish Examiner. (2016). Carbery call shots as 'Tarf foil Con: Clontarf 28 Cork Constitution 25, 9 May, Sport, page 15
    74. http://www.irishrugby.ie/club/ulsterbankleagueandcup/37426.php Clontarf Claim Second Title After Thrilling League Final
    75. Web site: Cork Con put crowning touch to their season. 9 May 2017 . . 8 May 2017.
    76. https://lansdownerugby.com/lansdowne-1st-xv-claim-all-ireland-honours-with-19-17-win-over-cork-constitution/
    77. News: Cork Con seal second AIL title in three years with Aviva victory over Clontarf. 5 May 2019. The42. 6 May 2019.
    78. Web site: Clontarf Hold Off Terenure Surge To Win Third League Title . Irish Rugby . 6 May 2022.
    79. Web site: Glory Days for Terenure College as Caolan Dooley’s boot leads them to first All-Ireland League title . Irish Times . 7 May 2023.
    80. Web site: 14-man Cork Con hold off Terenure for AIL glory . the42 . 28 April 2024.
    81. Irish Examiner. (1991). All-Ireland League boost, 6 February, page 17
    82. Irish Independent. (1991). League is insured for success, 6 February, page 5
    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
    87. Irish Independent. (2011). AIL gets Ulster Bank sponsorship boost, 11 January, Sport, page 9
    88. Web site: IRFU and Ulster Bank Announce New Community Rugby Partnership. SportsNews Ireland. 10 January 2011. 28 January 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110112092326/http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/2011/01/10/irfu-and-ulster-bank-announce-new-community-rugby-partnership/. 12 January 2011.
    89. News: IRFU secures new five-year sponsorship deal for All-Ireland League. 26 June 2019. The42. 26 June 2019.

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