The Ulster Senior League is a
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 ...
competition for senior clubs in the Irish 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 was formed by the then
Northern Branch
The Northern Branch is a railroad line that runs from Jersey City to Northvale in northeastern New Jersey. The line was constructed in 1859 by the Northern Railroad of New Jersey to connect the New York and Erie Railroad's Piermont Branch ter ...
of the
Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) ( ga, Cumann Rugbaí na hÉireann) is the body managing rugby union in the island of Ireland (both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ...
in October 1890. It has traditionally being ranked second in importance to the
Ulster Senior Cup
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 RF ...
. It has declined in importance due to the formation of the
All-Ireland League and growth in importance of the
Heineken Cup
The European Rugby Champions Cup (known as the Heineken Champions Cup for sponsorship reasons) is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a pre ...
.
The Senior League has had a chequered history. Its value was marred in the amateur era by periods when the elite clubs like North,
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 ...
and Collegians withdrew from the league to allow them to fulfil more friendly fixtures - particularly against English and Welsh opposition. This attitude from some of the senior clubs even lead to the scrapping of the league in 1930, and it was not re-established until after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The practice of withdrawing from the league finally died out in the 1970s.
Mostly the league was played in one section on an all-play-all home and away basis. However, with the expansion of the number of Senior Clubs in 1980, two sections were formed and the top two teams qualified for semi-finals. This allowed for a showpiece final at the end of the season.
The two section arrangement continued until 1990 when the advent of professionalism and preparation for the
All-Ireland League, saw the league separated into two sections based on playing ability. Promotion and relegation between the two sections was introduced at this time. This later gave way to a single-division league.
From the 2015–16 season, the League was renamed as the Ulster Championship League and divided into two sections (Division 1 and Division 2), with promotion and relegation between the two. The league was renamed the Soni Premiership in 2016–17.
The winners receive the Stevenson Shield.
Membership 2019-20
Division 1
*
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 ...
*
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 ...
*
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 ...
*
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 ...
*
Queen's University
*
Rainey Old Boys
Division 2
*
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 ...
*
Bangor
*
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 f ...
*
City of Derry
*
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 ...
*
Omagh
Omagh (; from ga, An Ómaigh , meaning 'the virgin plain') is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers River Drumragh, Drumragh and Camowen River, Camowen meet to form the River Strule, Strule. North ...
Winners
1890s
* 1890/91
Queen's College Belfast
Queen's University Belfast, officially The Queen's University of Belfast (commonly referred to as Queen's and QUB), is a Public university, public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The university received its charter ...
* 1891/92
NIFC
* 1892/93 NIFC
* 1893/94 NIFC
* 1894/95 NIFC
* 1895/96 NIFC
* 1896/97 NIFC
* 1897/98 NIFC
* 1898/99 NIFC
1900s
* 1899/1900
Queen's College Belfast
Queen's University Belfast, officially The Queen's University of Belfast (commonly referred to as Queen's and QUB), is a Public university, public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The university received its charter ...
* 1900/01
NIFC
* 1901/02 NIFC
* 1902/03
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 ...
* 1903/04
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 ...
* 1904/05 Malone
* 1905/06 Malone
* 1906/07 Malone
* 1907/08 Collegians
* 1908/09 NIFC
1910s
* 1909/10
* 1910/11 Collegians
* 1911/12
Queen's University
* 1912/13 Collegians
* 1913/14 Season abandoned due political crisis caused by the
Home Rule Crisis
The Home Rule Crisis was a political and military crisis in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that followed the introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in 1912. Unionists in Ulster, d ...
.
* 1914/15-1918/19 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
Queen's University
* 1920/21 NIFC
* 1921/22 Queen's University
* 1922/23 Queen's University
* 1923/24 Queen's University
* 1924/25
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 ...
* 1925/26 Instonians
* 1926/27 Instonians/NIFC
* 1927/28 Instonians
* 1928/29 Civil Service
1930s
* 1929/30
Bangor
* 1930/31-1944/45 Not played
1940s
* 1945/46 NIFC
* 1946/47
Queen's University
* 1947/48 Queen's University
* 1948/49 Queen's University
1950s
* 1949/50
Queen's University
* 1950/51 Collegians/
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 ...
* 1951/52 Collegians
* 1952/53 Instonians/Queen's University
* 1953/54 Instonians/Queen's University
* 1954/55 NIFC
* 1955/56 Collegians
* 1956/57 Instonians/Queen's University
* 1957/58 Instonians
* 1958/59 NIFC
1960s
* 1959/60
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 Dungannon
* 1961/62 Collegians
* 1962/63 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1963/64
Queen's University
* 1964/65 Dungannon
* 1965/66 NIFC
* 1966/67 Queen's University
* 1967/68 Dungannon
* 1968/69
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 ...
1970s
* 1969/70 Civil Service
* 1970/71 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1971/72 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1972/73
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 ...
/C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1973/74 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1974/75 Bangor
* 1975/76 Ballymena
* 1976/77 Bangor
* 1977/78 Ballymena
* 1978/79 Ballymena
1980s
* 1979/80
Queen's University
* 1980/81 Bangor
* 1981/82 Bangor
* 1982/83 Bangor
* 1983/84
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 ...
* 1984/85 Instonians
* 1985/86
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 ...
* 1986/87 Instonians
* 1987/88 Bangor
* 1988/89 Ballymena
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 ...
* 1990/91 Dungannon
* 1991/92 NIFC
* 1992/93 Malone
* 1993/94
* 1994/95
* 1995/96 Portadown
* 1996/97 Ballymena
* 1997/98 Ballymena
* 1998/99
2000s
* 1999/2000
City of Derry
* 2000/01
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 ...
* 2001/02 Ballymena
* 2002/03
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 f ...
* 2003/04 Belfast Harlequins
* 2004/05 Ballymena/Belfast Harlequins
* 2005/06 Ballymena/
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 ...
* 2006/07 Belfast Harlequins
* 2007/08 Belfast Harlequins
* 2008/09
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 ...
2010s
* 2009/10
* 2010/11
* 2011/12
* 2012/13
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 ...
* 2013-14
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 ...
* 2015-16
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
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 ...
* 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 ...
* 2018-19
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 ...
2020s
* 2019/20
Rainey Old Boys
* 2020/21 ''Not played due to COVID-19 pandemic''
* 2021/22
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 ...
Northern Ireland World
/ref>
See also
* Connacht Senior League
* Leinster Senior League
* Munster Senior League
Sources
{{Rugby union in Ireland , state=collapsed
3
Rugby union competitions in Ulster
Irish senior rugby competitions