Ulster Senior Cup (rugby union) explained

The Ulster Senior Cup is a knock-out competition for senior rugby union teams in the province of Ulster. It is administered by Ulster Rugby.

The most successful club is Queen's University with 23 wins. The current holders are City of Armagh RFC.

The winners compete with the other three provincial cup winners for the All-Ireland Cup.

Entry requirements

Entry is currently restricted to rugby clubs from Ulster that play in the All-Ireland League.

Performance by club

Performance Table
ClubWinnersRunners-UpTotal FinalsLast Title
Queen's University2419432021-22
Instonians209292023-24
North of Ireland1818361972-73
Ballymena1411232012-13
Dungannon107172010-11
Collegians812201982-83
Malone716231991-92
C.I.Y.M.S.66121977-78
Ballynahinch5492022-23
Bangor3581985-86
Belfast Harlequins3252007-08
Ards2021986-87
City of Armagh3142019-20
Albion1561888-89
City of Derry1231999-2000
Knock1231910-11
Lisburn1121887-88
Banbridge011n/a
Carrickfergus011n/a
Civil Service011n/a
Fortwilliam011n/a
Holywood011n/a
Rainey Old Boys011n/a

Finals

1880s

1890s

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

See also

Notes and References

  1. Belfast Newsletter 29 March 1897 Page 3
  2. Belfast Newsletter 28 March 1898 Page 3
  3. Belfast Newsletter 13 March 1899 Page 3
  4. Belfast Newsletter 2 April 1900 Page 7
  5. Belfast Newsletter 25 March 1901 Page 7
  6. Belfast Newsletter 7 April 1902 Page 5
  7. Belfast Newsletter 30 March 1903 Page 5
  8. News: Victory for the Rosetta Park Men. 5. 17 March 1913. Belfast Newsletter.
  9. Belfast Newsletter 6 January 1914
  10. Belfast Newsletter 18 April 1921 Page 2
  11. Belfast Newsletter 27 March 1922 Page 9
  12. Belfast Newsletter 26 March 1923 Page 2
  13. Belfast Newsletter 14 April 1924 Page 3
  14. Belfast Newsletter 27 April 1925 Page 3
  15. Belfast Newsletter 8 March 1926 Page 3
  16. Belfast Newsletter 7 March 1927 Page 3
  17. Belfast Newsletter 2 April 1928 Page 3
  18. Belfast Newsletter 8 April 1929 Page 3
  19. Belfast Newsletter 31 March 1930 Page 3
  20. Belfast Newsletter 30 March 1931 Page 3
  21. Belfast Newsletter 21 March 1932 Page 3
  22. Belfast Newsletter 27 March 1933 Page 4
  23. Belfast Newsletter 25 March 1935 Page 3
  24. Belfast Newsletter 30 March 1936 Page 4 & 6 April 1936 Page 3
  25. Belfast Newsletter 12 April 1937 Page 3
  26. Northern Whig 21 March 1938 Page 5
  27. Northern Whig 19 April 1948 Page 3
  28. Northern Whig 11 April 1949 Page 2
  29. Northern Whig 17 April 1950 Page 2
  30. Northern Whig 26 April 1954 Page 5
  31. Belfast Newsletter 25 April 1960 Page 7
  32. Belfast Newsletter 24 April 1961 Page 8
  33. Belfast Newsletter 9 April 1962 Page 9
  34. Belfast Newsletter 22 April 1963 Page 8
  35. Belfast Newsletter 3 May 1965 Page 12
  36. Belfast Newsletter 9 May 1966 Page 11
  37. Ireland's Saturday Night 22 April 1967 Page 2
  38. Belfast Newsletter 19 April 1971 Page 10
  39. Belfast Newsletter 28 April 1975 Page 12
  40. Belfast Newsletter 26 April 1976 Page 12
  41. Belfast Newsletter 25 April 1977 Page 12
  42. Belfast Newsletter 23 April 1979 Page 10
  43. Belfast Newsletter 21 April 1980 Page 12
  44. Belfast Newsletter 20 April 1981 Page 9
  45. Belfast Newsletter 25 April 1994 Page 20
  46. Micheal McGeary, "Just so Jeremy", Sunday Life, 12 May 1996
  47. Web site: Belfast Harlequins lift Senior Cup. BBC Northern Ireland Sport. 4 May 2007. 24 November 2000.
  48. Web site: Dungannon cup glory. BBC Northern Ireland Sport. 4 May 2007. 4 January 2002.
  49. Web site: Ballymena's cup runneth over. BBC Sport. 4 May 2007. 13 March 2003.
  50. Web site: Ballymena retain senior cup. BBC Sport. 4 May 2007. 24 April 2004.
  51. Web site: Ballymena 22-20 Belfast H'quins. BBC Sport. 4 May 2007. 1 April 2005.
  52. Web site: Belfast Harlequins 36-9 Malone. BBC Sport. 4 May 2007. 21 April 2006.
  53. Web site: Dungannon 27-10 B'fast Harlequins. BBC Sport. 4 May 2007. 4 May 2007.
  54. Web site: Harlequins win Ulster Senior Cup. BBC Sport. 25 April 2008. 25 April 2008.
  55. Web site: Harlequins secure senior cup. Belfast Newsletter. 25 April 2008. 25 April 2008.
  56. Web site: Ballynahinch 19-0 Ballymena. BBC Sport. 2 May 2009. 1 May 2009.
  57. Web site: Queen's and Malone set for First Trust Senior Cup final. BBC Sport. 1 May 2010. 30 April 2010.
  58. News: Dungannon's early onslaught the spark for big drive to final glory. Belfast Telegraph. 18 December 2010. 17 December 2010.
  59. Web site: Dungannon beat City of Derry in Senior Cup final. BBC Sport. 18 December 2010. 17 December 2010.
  60. Web site: Braidmen hold firm. Belfast Newsletter. 15 December 2011. 14 December 2011.
  61. Web site: Ballymena retain Ulster Senior Cup with win over Rainey. BBC Sport. 13 December 2012. 13 December 2012.
  62. Web site: Queen's topple Ballynahinch to collect Senior Cup title. Belfast Newsletter. 12 December 2013. 12 December 2013.
  63. http://www.ulsterrugby.com/domestic/News/TabId/340/ArtMID/798/ArticleID/3109/Ballynahinch-win-First-Trust-Senior-Cup.aspx Ballynahinch win First Trust Senior Cup
  64. http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby-news/in-pictures-ballynahinch-win-first-trust-ulster-senior-cup-1-7122370 IN PICTURES: Ballynahinch win First Trust Ulster Senior Cup
  65. http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/15550.php Ballynahinch secure treble of First Trust Senior Cup titles
  66. Web site: Ulster Senior Cup: City of Armagh beat Ballymena 17-13 for first success. BBC Sport. 20 December 2017. 19 December 2017.
  67. Web site: Ulster Senior Cup: City of Armagh beat Ballymena 9-7 to retain title. BBC Sport. 11 February 2019. 8 February 2019.
  68. News: Armagh complete senior cup hat-trick. BBC Sport.
  69. https://ulster.rugby/content/bank-of-ireland-senior-cup-final-report-city-of-armagh-22-queens-university-40 Ulster Rugby
  70. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ballynahinch-win-senior-cup-after-strong-second-half-performance-against-queens/1773099113.html Belfast Telegraph
  71. Michael Sadlier, "Instonians end 25-year wait for Senior Cup glory with extra-time win over Queen’s in Final", Belfast Telegraph, 4 May 2024