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Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup

Schools rugby union competition in Ireland

Summary

Schools rugby union competition in Ireland

FieldValue
titleLeinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup
sportRugby union
founded1887
organiserLeinster Rugby
teams16
championBlackrock College (72nd title)
most successful clubBlackrock College (72 titles)
logoLeinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup.jpg
logo_size220px
captionLeinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup

The Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup is the premier rugby union competition for secondary schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), and was first held in 1887.

Attendances are high for a schoolboy competition, with up to 25000 present at the final. This match traditionally took place on Saint Patrick's Day at Lansdowne Road. In 2008, the final was played at the Royal Dublin Society Grounds (RDS) after Donnybrook proved to be too small for the 2007 final, (Lansdowne Road was closed for redevelopment) and has been the home since. Since the move to the RDS and live television coverage, the attendance has decreased and is now typically 10,000 to 14,000.

Blackrock College are the most successful school in the cup's history, having won 72 times, more than all other teams combined.

History

Three schools have won the cup at their first attempt; Blackrock College in the competition's maiden year in 1887, Castleknock College who won the first of their eight Leinster titles at the first time of asking when they defeated Blackrock in the 1913 final and Clongowes Wood College who first won the cup in 1926. St. Fintan's High School and Temple Carrig School are the most recent 'new' schools to the competition, making their debuts in the 2016/17 and 2019/20 seasons respectively.

To date, only six schools have achieved the Senior and Junior Cup "double". These are Blackrock, who have achieved this feat 26 times (1910, 1912, 1927, 1933, 1935–36, 1942–43, 1945, 1948, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1962, 1964, 1981–82, 1986–87, 1995, 2004, 2006, 2013–14, 2018), St Michaels twice (2012 & 2019), Newbridge (2020), Belvedere (2005), Terenure (1958) and Castleknock College (1920).

Even more rare is to lose both the Senior and Junior Cup Finals in the same year. This outcome has been experienced by seven schools on 12 occasions. Terenure College leads with 4 (1957, 1964, 1969 & 1987), followed by Belvedere College with 3 (1930, 1944 & 1962), next St Michaels College (2010), St Mary's College (1943), Newbridge College (1939), Cistercian College Roscrea (1910) and Blackrock College (2017) with 1 each. It happened to Blackrock College for the first time in 2017.

Blackrock College have only been defeated in successive finals on two occasions. In the 1920s they were runners up three times in a row, defeated by St Andrews in 1921 & 1922 followed by Belvedere in 1923. The second occasion was in 1979 & 1980 when they were defeated in successive finals by Terenure College.

The 91st Leinster Senior Schools Cup Final in 1977 was between Blackrock College and St Mary's College, and finished level at 12 points each at the end of normal time. Having played 70 minutes, the two sides now faced an additional 15 minutes extra time. Six minutes into extra time Blackrock got a try and conversion. Two further penalties in the second half of extra time sealed victory for Blackrock. The 1977 Leinster Senior Schools Cup Final was played on Sunday 20 March 1977 and not the normal St Patrick's Day. This decision was made to protect the Lansdowne Road pitch following poor weather prior to the Ireland v France Five Nations fixture on 19 March.

In September 1967, the then Minister for Education Donogh O'Malley introduced free secondary school education. Only very few rugby playing secondary schools opted to join the "Free Education" scheme. To date, only one of these non-fee paying schools has managed to win the Senior Cup. In 1983 and 1985, De La Salle Churchtown beat Castleknock College and Blackrock College.

Four captains have gained the distinction of lifting the cup twice, Larry McMahon (Blackrock College, 1929 and 1930), Garret Gill (Blackrock College, 1962 and 1963), Jonny Mion (Blackrock College) in 1989 and 1990, Barry Gibney (Blackrock College) in 1995 and 1996.

The cup, and the schools who play for it, have a history of producing rugby players who have gone on to play for the Ireland national rugby union team. Players such as Denis Hickie, who captained his St. Mary's College team to win the cup in 1994, and Gordon D'Arcy have extensive Leinster Senior Cup records. The most international players produced have come from Blackrock College, with players such as Hugo MacNeill, Brendan Mullin, Brian O'Driscoll, Victor Costello, Shane Byrne, Bob Casey, Leo Cullen, Luke Fitzgerald, Ian Madigan, Jordi Murphy, Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery.

The 2020 season could not be completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result the title was deemed shared for the first time by Clongowes Wood College and Newbridge College. It was also only the forth time that no Dublin based school qualified for the final, 1932 (Pres Bray V Newbridge), 1941 (Newbridge V Roscrea), 2011 (Clongowes V Roscrea).

The 2021 cup campaign did not take place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023 first round tie between Terenure College and Clongowes Wood College, Clongowes won 17–15 in a very tight game. However it emerged afterwards that Clongowes fielded an illegible player and the Schools committee ordered a replay. Clongowes also won the replay 20–19 with Terenure hitting the posts with a last minute penalty attempt.

Roll of honour

SchoolLocationTitlesWinning years
[[File:sq3 skywhitesky.svg23x23px]] Blackrock CollegeBlackrock, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown721887–88, 1890, 1893–97, 1900–05, 1907–1910, 1912, 1915–1919, 1925, 1927–1930, 1933–1936, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025
[[Image:sq3 blackwhiteblack.svg23x23px]] Belvedere CollegeGreat Denmark Street, Dublin City121923–24, 1938, 1946, 1951, 1968, 1971–72, 2005 (Double), 2008, 2016–17
[[Image:sq3 blackpurplewhite.svg23x23px]] Terenure CollegeTerenure, Dublin City101952, 1958 (Double), 1979–80, 1984, 1992–93, 1997, 2001, 2003
[[Image:sq3 purplewhitepurple.svg23x23px]] Clongowes Wood CollegeClane, County Kildare91926, 1978, 1988, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2010–11, 20202
[[Image:sq2 skynavy.svg23x23px]] Castleknock CollegeCastleknock, Dublin81913, 1920 (Double), 1931, 1937, 1944, 1947, 1959, 1965
[[Image:sq2 bluewhite.svg23x23px]] St. Mary's CollegeRathmines, Dublin City51961, 1966, 1969, 1994, 2002
[[Image:sq3 bluewhiteblue.svg23x23px]] St. Andrew's CollegeBooterstown, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown41906, 1911, 1921, 1922
[[Image:sq2 whiteblack.svg23x23px]] Newbridge CollegeNewbridge, County Kildare31941, 1970, 20202 (Double)
[[Image:sq2 skynavy.svg23x23px]] St. Michael's CollegeAilesbury Road, Dublin 432007, 2012 (Double), 2019 (Double)
[[Image:sq3 maroonyellowmaroon.svg23x23px]] De La Salle ChurchtownChurchtown, Dublin21983, 1985
Corrig School4 (Closed)Monkstown, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown21889, 1892
[[File:Sq2 greenwhite.svg23x23px]] Gonzaga CollegeRanelagh, Dublin12023
[[Image:sq3 blackwhiteblack.svg23x23px]] Cistercian College, RoscreaRoscrea, County Offaly12015
[[Image:sq3 redyellowblack.svg23x23px]] C.B.C. MonkstownMonkstown, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown11976
[[File:Sq3 blackredblack.svg23x23px]] The High SchoolRathgar, Dublin11973
[[Image:sq3 blackyellowred.svg23x23px]] Presentation College BrayBray, County Wicklow11932
[[Image:sq2 blueblack.svg23x23px]] Mountjoy School / Mount Temple Comprehensive School1Malahide Road, Dublin City11914
[[Image:sq3 whitegreenred.svg23x23px]] Saint Columba's CollegeWhitechurch, South Dublin11899
[[Image:sq3 navywhitered.svg23x23px]] Wesley CollegeBallinteer, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown11898
Rathmines School3 (Closed)Rathmines, Dublin City11891

1 Mountjoy School was amalgamated with other schools in 1972 to become Mount Temple Comprehensive School.

2 SCT Final not played due to COVID-19. Cup shared.

3 Rathmines school closed in 1899.

4 Corrig School (Monkstown Park School), a Protestant school closed in the first half of the 20th century and later in the 1950s the catholic CBC Monkstown transferred part of the school to the campus

Results

YearWinnerScoreRunner-up
1887Blackrock College3–0Farra School, Westmeath
1888Blackrock College8–0Rathmines School
1889Corrig School4–0Galway Grammar School
1890Blackrock College22–0Corrig School
1891Rathmines School1–0Wesley College
1892Corrig School0–0
6–2Rathmines School
1893Blackrock College18–0Rathmines School
1894Blackrock College5–0Corrig School
1895Blackrock College15–3Wesley College
1896Blackrock College8–3Wesley College
1897Blackrock College25–0The High School
1898Wesley College15–0Rathmines School
1899St. Columba's College8–5Blackrock College
1900Blackrock College63–0Corrig School
1901Blackrock College13–0Corrig School
1902Blackrock College3–3
18–0St. Andrew's College
1903Blackrock College8–5St. Andrew's College
1904Blackrock College8–0Mountjoy School
1905Blackrock College0–0
6–0Mountjoy School
1906St. Andrew's College5–0Blackrock College
1907Blackrock College28–3The King's Hospital
1908Blackrock College9–3St. Andrew's College
1909Blackrock College25–0The High School
1910Blackrock College0–0
6–3Cistercian College, Roscrea
1911St. Andrew's College9–3Mountjoy School
1912Blackrock College11–0St. Columba's College
1913Castleknock College8–5Blackrock College
1914Mountjoy School3–0Wesley College
1915Blackrock College12–0The High School
1916Blackrock College14–3Castleknock College
1917Blackrock College21–0Belvedere College
1918Blackrock College12–0Mountjoy School
1919Blackrock College25–0The High School
1920Castleknock College9–0Mountjoy School
1921St. Andrew's College6–0Blackrock College
1922St. Andrew's College3–0Blackrock College
1923Belvedere College2–0Blackrock College
1924Belvedere College8–3Castleknock College
1925Blackrock College2–0Castleknock College
1926Clongowes Wood College9–5Belvedere College
1927Blackrock College12–5Clongowes Wood College
1928Blackrock College6–0Clongowes Wood College
1929Blackrock College8–0Clongowes Wood College
1930Blackrock College11–7Belvedere College
1931Castleknock College6–0Belvedere College
1932Presentation Bray6–4Newbridge College
1933Blackrock College10–0Belvedere College
1934Blackrock College33–0Wesley College
1935Blackrock College18–3Wesley College
1936Blackrock College14–0Clongowes Wood College
1937Castleknock College8–0Mountjoy School
1938Belvedere College3–0Castleknock College
1939Blackrock College8–3Newbridge College
1940Blackrock College3–0Castleknock College
1941Newbridge College0–0
9–3Cistercian College, Roscrea
1942Blackrock College9–6Castleknock College
1943Blackrock College9–6St. Mary's College
1944Castleknock College18–3Belvedere College
1945Blackrock College28–3Newbridge College
1946Belvedere College8–0St. Mary's College
1947Castleknock College6–0Blackrock College
1948Blackrock College9–0Castleknock College
1949Blackrock College6–3Clongowes Wood College
1950Blackrock College18–0Castleknock College
1951Belvedere College12–0The King's Hospital
1952Terenure College9–3Castleknock College
1953Blackrock College11–0Clongowes Wood College
1954Blackrock College11–3Belvedere College
1955Blackrock College11–8Castleknock College
1956Blackrock College11–0Terenure College
1957Blackrock College5–3Terenure College
1958Terenure College3–0Belvedere College
1959Castleknock College11–9Newbridge College
1960Blackrock College13–6Terenure College
1961St. Mary's College11–0Castleknock College
1962Blackrock College9–3Belvedere College
1963Blackrock College6–0The High School
1964Blackrock College3–0Terenure College
1965Castleknock College12–8Blackrock College
1966St. Mary's College14–6Newbridge College
1967Blackrock College11–3St. Mary's College
1968Belvedere College14–11De La Salle Churchtown
1969St. Mary's College10–9Terenure College
1970Newbridge College19–5Blackrock College
1971Belvedere College14–11Presentation Bray
1972Belvedere College20–10Terenure College
1973The High School19–7Belvedere College
1974Blackrock College10–6St. Mary's College
1975Blackrock College11–7De La Salle Churchtown
1976C.B.C. Monkstown3–0Castleknock College
1977Blackrock College12–12 FT
24–12 ETSt. Mary's College
1978Clongowes Wood College9–6Terenure College
1979Terenure College15–9Blackrock College
1980Terenure College12–10Blackrock College
1981Blackrock College9–3Clongowes Wood College
1982Blackrock College22–3The King's Hospital
1983De La Salle Churchtown13–6Castleknock College
1984Terenure College15–3C.B.C. Monkstown
1985De La Salle Churchtown10–6Blackrock College
1986Blackrock College10–3De La Salle Churchtown
1987Blackrock College15–9Terenure College
1988Clongowes Wood College6–3St Michael's College
1989Blackrock College28–16Belvedere College
1990Blackrock College14–6Clongowes Wood College
1991Clongowes Wood College7–3St Michael's College
1992Terenure College19–6Belvedere College
1993Terenure College8–3Clongowes Wood College
1994St. Mary's College14–14
7–3Clongowes Wood College
1995Blackrock College8–3Clongowes Wood College
1996Blackrock College37–3Newbridge College
1997Terenure College22–15Clongowes Wood College
1998Clongowes Wood College37–18Terenure College
1999Blackrock College17–9Cistercian College, Roscrea
2000Clongowes Wood College13–11Terenure College
2001Terenure College21–19Blackrock College
2002St. Mary's College10–6Belvedere College
2003Terenure College6–6
3–0St. Mary's College
2004Blackrock College24–9Clongowes Wood College
2005Belvedere College16–10Blackrock College
2006Blackrock College14–12St Michael's College
2007St Michael's College6–0Clongowes Wood College
2008Belvedere College11–10St. Mary's College
2009Blackrock College18–9Terenure College
2010Clongowes Wood College38–20St Michael's College
2011Clongowes Wood College46–15Cistercian College, Roscrea
2012St Michael's College17–10Clongowes Wood College
2013Blackrock College23–20St Michael's College
2014Blackrock College22–17Clongowes Wood College
2015Cistercian College, Roscrea18–11Belvedere College
2016Belvedere College31–7Cistercian College, Roscrea
2017Belvedere College10–3Blackrock College
2018Blackrock College35–12Belvedere College
2019St Michael's College28–5Gonzaga College
2020Clongowes Wood College
Newbridge CollegeJoint Winners
2021Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
title=Blackrock College power their way to 70th Leinster senior titleurl=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/racing/blackrock-college-power-their-way-to-70th-leinster-senior-title-1.4843484newspaper=Irish Timesaccess-date=3 April 2022}}Blackrock College50–21Gonzaga College
title=Gonzaga win a first Senior Cup after dethroning champions Blackrock in final for the agesurl=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/03/17/gonzaga-win-a-first-senior-cup-after-dethroning-champions-blackrock-in-final-for-the-ages/newspaper=Irish Timesaccess-date=18 March 2023}}Gonzaga College35–31Blackrock College
2024Blackrock College28–12St Michael's College
2025Blackrock College14–9Terenure College
2026–

Records

  • Most consecutive wins: 6, Blackrock College 1900–05
  • Greatest winning margin in final: 63 points, 1900: Blackrock College 63-0 Corrig School
  • Narrowest winning margin in final: 1 point, 1891: Blackrock College 1–0 Wesley College; 1969: St. Mary's College 10–9 Terenure College; 2008: Belvedere College 11–10 St. Mary's College
  • Highest aggregate score in final: 71 points, 2022: Blackrock College 50-21 Gonzaga College

Sponsorship and media coverage

The competition was known for several years as the "Coca-Cola Leinster Schools Senior Cup" and in later years the "Powerade Leinster Schools Senior Cup" (Powerade is also owned by the Coca-Cola Company). In September 2013, Beauchamps Solicitors became the title sponsor for the Leinster Schools Senior Cup. For the duration of this partnership with Beauchamps, the Senior Cup was known as the "Beauchamps Leinster Schools Senior Cup".

The competition receives coverage in Ireland's broadsheets, in particular the Irish Independent and The Irish Times. Both publish previews of each year's competition and provide match reports for each game played.

The competition's final on St Patrick's Day was previously broadcast on TG4, however, this was discontinued in the early 2000s. From 2005 onwards, however, Setanta Sports began coverage of school's rugby. This included the finals of all provincial finals and coverage of the Leinster Schools Junior Cup. The Leinster Senior Cup was most prominent, however, with coverage from every game played at Donnybrook and every round of the competition.

FreeSports replaced Eir Sport as the competition broadcaster ahead of the 2019 competition where they will broadcast eight games live.

Leinster School of the Year Award

In 2008, Leinster Rugby instituted an award for overall performance of a school at every level of schools rugby. The award, "Powerade Leinster Rugby School of the Year", has been given at an annual Leinster awards ceremony.

The inaugural winners were C.B.C. Monkstown. They were followed in by Terenure College (2009), St Gerard's School (2010), Clongowes Wood College (2011), St. Michael's College (2012), (2019) and Blackrock College (2013), (2018). Gonzaga College (2017)

Tiers

Schools Senior Cup Rugby in Leinster is divided into 4 tiers in two sections, and each cup competition bears a name. These 'tiers', in ascending order, include: Section A Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Development Cup (effectively division 4), Section A Leinster Schools Rugby McMullen Cup (effectively division 3), Section B Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Cup (effectively division 2), Section B Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup (effectively division 1).

The second-tier competition, the Leinster School's Vinnie Murray Cup, is contested by secondary schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU. It is named in memory of Vincent Murray, a teacher in Clongowes Wood college who trained the rugby team and died in December 1999. In recent years Catholic University School won in both 2022 and 2023, St. Fintan's High School won the cup in 2024 and Presentation College, Bray won the Vinnie Murray Cup in 2025. With five wins, C.B.C. Monkstown has won the Vinnie Murray Cup the most times. Wesley College the second most with four wins. Catholic University School the third most with three wins. Gonzaga College, The King's Hospital and St Gerard's School have won the trophy twice. Kilkenny College, Temple Carrig School, St. Fintan's High School and Presentation College Bray have each won the cup once.

Notes

References

  1. "Statistics compiled by Des Daly, Irish Rugby Statistician".
  2. Leinster Schools Senior Rugby Cup Centenary Celebration 1886-1986
  3. "Terenure awarded replay after Clongowes field ineligible player in Leinster Schools Senior Cup tie". The Irish Times.
  4. (14 July 2007). "Belvo take first senior cup win". www.rte.ie.
  5. (19 March 2012). "Towering Leavy Michael's hero".
  6. (19 March 2013). "Power pounces to steal it for teak-tough 'Rock". [[Irish Independent]].
  7. (16 March 2014). "Blackrock claim Leinster Schools crown". [[Setanta News]].
  8. (17 March 2015). "Roscrea claim first ever Leinster Senior Cup title with victory over Belvedere". [[Irish Independent]].
  9. (13 March 2016). "Belvedere secure an 11th Leinster Schools Senior Cup triumph". Irish Independent.
  10. (19 March 2020). "IRFU to conclude incomplete 2019/20 season with immediate effect".
  11. "Blackrock College power their way to 70th Leinster senior title". [[Irish Times]].
  12. "Gonzaga win a first Senior Cup after dethroning champions Blackrock in final for the ages". Irish Times.
  13. "Blackrock win 71st Leinster Schools Senior Cup in emphatic fashion".
  14. "Domestic News - The Official Home of Leinster Rugby".
  15. (11 January 2019). "Leinster Rugby announces new TV deal for 2019 Senior Schools Cup". The 42.
  16. "Leinster Rugby : Player of the Year Awards".
  17. "Irish Rugby : Elsom Scoops Leinster Player of the Year Award".
  18. "Leinster Rugby : Newsroom : Nacewa bags top honour at Leinster Awards Ball...".
  19. "CUS make it back-to-back titles in Vinnie Murray Cup".
  20. "Leinster Rugby - St Fintan's High School win the Vinnie Murray Cup".
  21. "Leinster Rugby - Pres Bray resist late Temple Carrig surge to win first Vinnie Murray Cup title".
  22. Kelly, Daniel. (10 March 2023). "CUS retain Bank of Ireland Vinnie Murray Cup".
  23. "Vinnie Murray Cup: King's Hospital claim crown for second time". [[The Irish Times]].
  24. "Sect B: Vinnie Murray Cup - Leinster Schools Vincent Murray Cup - History".
Wikipedia Source

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