The Ulster Senior Cup is a knock-out competition for senior
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...
teams in the province of
Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...
. It is administered by
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby is one of the four professional provincial rugby teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup.
The team represents the IRFU Ulster Branch, which is one of ...
.
The most successful club is
Queen's University with 23 wins. The current holders are
City of Armagh RFC
The City of Armagh Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Armagh, Northern Ireland, playing in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League (rugby union), All-Ireland League.
Honours
*Ulster Senior League (rugby union), Ulster Senior Leagu ...
.
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
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...
that play in the
All-Ireland League.
Performance by club
Finals
1880s
* 1884-85
NIFC (North of Ireland) 19-4
Lisburn
Lisburn (; ) is a city in Northern Ireland. It is southwest of Belfast city centre, on the River Lagan, which forms the boundary between County Antrim and County Down. First laid out in the 17th century by English and Welsh settlers, with ...
* 1885-86 Queen's College 6-0 Albion
* 1886-87 Queen's College 5-0 NIFC
* 1887-88 Lisburn 5-0 Albion
* 1888-89 Albion 4-3 Queen's College
1890s
* 1889-90 Queen's College 13-0 Albion
* 1890-91 Queen's College 8-0 Albion
* 1891-92 Queen's College 6-0 Albion
* 1892-93
NIFC 3-0 Queen's College (After extra time in Replay)
* 1893-94 NIFC 11-8
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
* 1894-95 NIFC 3-0 Collegians
* 1895-96 NIFC 11-3 Collegians
* 1896-97 NIFC 9-3 Queen's College
* 1897-98 NIFC 13-0 Queen's College
* 1898-99 NIFC 16-3 Collegians
1900s
* 1899-1900
Queen's College 16-0
Holywood
Holy Wood or Holywood may refer to:
Places
* Holywood, County Down, a town and townland in Northern Ireland
** Holywood, County Down (civil parish), a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland
** Holywood railway station (Northern Ireland)
* ...
* 1900-01
NIFC 14-0
Dungannon
Dungannon () is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second-largest town in the county (after Omagh) and had a population of 14,340 at the 2011 Census. The Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council had its headquarters in the ...
* 1901-02 NIFC 6-0
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 1902-03 Queen's College 6-0 NIFC
* 1903-04 Malone 10-3 Queen's College
* 1904-05 Malone 8-5 Fortwilliam
* 1905-06
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
8-0 NIFC
* 1906-07 Malone 13-3 Collegians
* 1907-08 NIFC 10-0 Knock
* 1908-09 Queen's University 16-6 NIFC
1910s
* 1909-10
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
10-6
Queen's University
* 1910-11 Knock 6-5
NIFC
* 1911-12 Queen's University 13-0
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 1912-13 Collegians 9-3 Knock
* 1913-14 All Senior Rugby was suspended in early 1914 due to the Home Rule crisis and the Senior Cup was not played.
* 1914-1919 Not played due to
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
1920s
* 1919-20
NIFC 5-0
Queen's University
* 1920-21 Queen's University 19-6 NIFC (at Balmoral)
* 1921-22
Instonians
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricke ...
8-0 Queen's University (at Balmoral)
* 1922-23 Instonians 19-5 Queen's University (at Balmoral)
* 1923-24 Queen's University 16-8 Instonians (at Ravenhill)
* 1924-25 Queen's University 14-3 Instonians (at Ravenhill)
* 1925-26
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
11-3 Queen's University (at Ravenhill)
* 1926-27 Instonians 8-3 NIFC (after extra time)
* 1927-28 Instonians 3-0 NIFC
* 1928-29 Instonians 23-13 NIFC
1930s
* 1929-30
NIFC 6-4
Queen's University
* 1930-31
Instonians
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricke ...
7-3
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
* 1931-32 Queen's University 10-3 Collegians
* 1932-33 Queen's University 18-6
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 1933-34 Instonians 11-6
Civil Service
The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil servants hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leaders ...
* 1934-35 NIFC 15-0 Queen's University
* 1935-36 Queen's University 11-0 NIFC (Replay – Game 1: 0-0)
* 1936-37 Queen's University 5-0 Collegians
* 1937-38 Instonians 11-6 NIFC
* 1938-39 NIFC 20-0 Malone
1940s
* 1939-1945 Not Played
* 1945-46
Instonians
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricke ...
6-0
NIFC
* 1946-47
Queen's University 16-11
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
* 1947-48 Instonians 12-10 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1948-49 Instonians 13-9 Queen's University
1950s
* 1949-50
Instonians
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricke ...
11-0
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 1950-51
Queen's University 15-0
NIFC
* 1951-52
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
8-3 Queen's University
* 1952-53 C.I.Y.M.S. 9-6 Collegians
* 1953-54 Instonians 6-0 Queen's University
* 1954-55 NIFC 17-3 Queen's University
* 1955-56 Instonians 6-3 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1956-57 Instonians 6-3
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
* 1957-58 Instonians 3-0 Ballymena
* 1958-59 Queen's University beat C.I.Y.M.S.
1960s
* 1959-60
Queen's University 14-3
Instonians
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricke ...
* 1960-61
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
6-3
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
* 1961-62 Collegians 8-0 Queen's University
* 1962-63 Ballymena 8-0 Collegians
* 1963-64
Dungannon
Dungannon () is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second-largest town in the county (after Omagh) and had a population of 14,340 at the 2011 Census. The Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council had its headquarters in the ...
6-0 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1964-65 Instonians 9-6
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 1965-66 C.I.Y.M.S. 29-6 Queen's University
* 1966-67 C.I.Y.M.S. 3-0 Dungannon
* 1967-68 Dungannon 12-6 Instonians
* 1968-69
NIFC 23-11 Dungannon
1970s
* 1969-70
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
beat C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1970-71
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
6-3
NIFC
* 1971-72 C.I.Y.M.S. 22-18 Ballymena
* 1972-73 NIFC 25-12 Malone
* 1973-74 C.I.Y.M.S. 16-6
Bangor
* 1974-75 Ballymena 13-3 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1975-76
Dungannon
Dungannon () is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second-largest town in the county (after Omagh) and had a population of 14,340 at the 2011 Census. The Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council had its headquarters in the ...
12-9
Instonians
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricke ...
* 1976-77 Ballymena 14-4 NIFC
* 1977-78 C.I.Y.M.S. 14-12 Ballymena
* 1978-79 Instonians 9-6 NIFC
1980s
* 1979-80
Bangor 10-6
Instonians
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricke ...
* 1980-81
Queen's University 16-12
Collegians
Collegians are an Australian rugby league football team based in Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and compete in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership.
Originally known as CBC Old Boys, the Club was founded in 1933. The ...
* 1981-82 Bangor 26-7
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus ( , meaning " Fergus' rock") is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,998 at the 2011 Census. It is County Antrim's oldest t ...
* 1982-83 Collegians 11-6
City of Derry
* 1983-84
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
19-12
NIFC
* 1984-85
Ards
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea), rapid breathing (tachypnea), and bluish skin color ...
19-7 Instonians
* 1985-86 Bangor beat Malone
* 1986-87 Ards beat Bangor
* 1987-88 Malone beat Bangor
* 1988-89
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
beat Bangor
1990s
* 1989-90
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
17-9
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 1990-91 Ballymena 13-0
Bangor
* 1991-92 Malone 13-3
NIFC
* 1992-93
Dungannon
Dungannon () is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second-largest town in the county (after Omagh) and had a population of 14,340 at the 2011 Census. The Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council had its headquarters in the ...
20-18 Ballymena
* 1993-94 Dungannon 14-10
Instonians
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricke ...
* 1994-95 Dungannon 21-16 Instonians
* 1995-96 Ballymena beat Malone
* 1996-97 Ballymena 20-13 Malone
* 1997-98 Dungannon beat Malone
* 1998-99 Instonians beat Malone
2000s
* 1999-2000
City of Derry beat
Dungannon
Dungannon () is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second-largest town in the county (after Omagh) and had a population of 14,340 at the 2011 Census. The Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council had its headquarters in the ...
* 2000-01
Belfast Harlequins
Belfast Harlequins is a multi-sports club located off the Malone Road in south Belfast, Northern Ireland. The club name provides the overall umbrella for rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey, and squash. The club is associated on and off the fi ...
41-12 Dungannon
* 2001-02 Dungannon 32-3
Ballynahinch Ballynahinch may refer to:
Northern Ireland
* Ballynahinch, County Armagh, a townland
*Ballynahinch, County Down, a town
Republic of Ireland
*Ballynahinch (barony), in County Galway
*Ballynahinch, County Galway, a townland in County Galway
* Bally ...
* 2002-03
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
44-3 Dungannon
* 2003-04 Ballymena 11-3 Ballynahinch
* 2004-05 Ballymena 22-20 Belfast Harlequins
* 2005-06 Belfast Harlequins 36-9
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 2006-07 Dungannon 27-10 Belfast Harlequins
* 2007-08 Belfast Harlequins 22-17 Ballymena
* 2008-09 Ballynahinch 19-0 Ballymena
2010s
* 2009-10
Queen's University 37-0
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 2010-11
Dungannon
Dungannon () is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second-largest town in the county (after Omagh) and had a population of 14,340 at the 2011 Census. The Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council had its headquarters in the ...
25-0
City of Derry
* 2011-12
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
17-11
Banbridge
Banbridge ( , ) is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road (Northern Ireland), A1 road and is named after a bridge built over the River Bann in 1712. It is situated in the Civil parishes in Ireland, c ...
* 2012-13 Ballymena 25-6
Rainey Old Boys
* 2013-14 Queen's University 16-10
Ballynahinch Ballynahinch may refer to:
Northern Ireland
* Ballynahinch, County Armagh, a townland
*Ballynahinch, County Down, a town
Republic of Ireland
*Ballynahinch (barony), in County Galway
*Ballynahinch, County Galway, a townland in County Galway
* Bally ...
* 2014-15
Ballynahinch Ballynahinch may refer to:
Northern Ireland
* Ballynahinch, County Armagh, a townland
*Ballynahinch, County Down, a town
Republic of Ireland
*Ballynahinch (barony), in County Galway
*Ballynahinch, County Galway, a townland in County Galway
* Bally ...
17-10
Malone
Malone is an Irish surname. From the Irish "''Mael Eóin''", the name means a servant or a disciple of Saint John.
People
* Gilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin (died 1127), historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Ó Maoil Eoin
* Adrian Malone (1937–2 ...
* 2015-16
Ballynahinch Ballynahinch may refer to:
Northern Ireland
* Ballynahinch, County Armagh, a townland
*Ballynahinch, County Down, a town
Republic of Ireland
*Ballynahinch (barony), in County Galway
*Ballynahinch, County Galway, a townland in County Galway
* Bally ...
19-10
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
* 2016-17
Ballynahinch Ballynahinch may refer to:
Northern Ireland
* Ballynahinch, County Armagh, a townland
*Ballynahinch, County Down, a town
Republic of Ireland
*Ballynahinch (barony), in County Galway
*Ballynahinch, County Galway, a townland in County Galway
* Bally ...
27-10
Dungannnon
* 2017-18
Armagh
Armagh ( ; ga, Ard Mhacha, , "Macha's height") is the county town of County Armagh and a city in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Pri ...
17-13
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
* 2018-19
Armagh
Armagh ( ; ga, Ard Mhacha, , "Macha's height") is the county town of County Armagh and a city in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Pri ...
9-7
Ballymena
Ballymena ( ; from ga, an Baile Meánach , meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town is built on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I i ...
2020s
* 2019-20
Armagh
Armagh ( ; ga, Ard Mhacha, , "Macha's height") is the county town of County Armagh and a city in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Pri ...
38-34
Ballynahinch Ballynahinch may refer to:
Northern Ireland
* Ballynahinch, County Armagh, a townland
*Ballynahinch, County Down, a town
Republic of Ireland
*Ballynahinch (barony), in County Galway
*Ballynahinch, County Galway, a townland in County Galway
* Bally ...
* 2020-21 ''Not played due to COVID-19 pandemic''
* 2021-22
Queen's University 40-22
City of ArmaghUlster Rugby
/ref>
See also
* Connacht Senior Cup
* Leinster Senior Cup
* Munster Senior Cup
Sources
{{Rugby union in Ireland , state=collapsed
Rugby union competitions in Ulster
Irish senior rugby competitions
1884 establishments in Ireland