2024–25 All-Ireland League (rugby Union)

The 2024–25 All-Ireland League, known as the Energia All-Ireland League for sponsorship reasons, was the 33rd season of Irish Rugby's top level domestic competition. The League began on 20 September 2024 and finished with the League final at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on 27 April 2025.

Cork Constitution were the defending champions having won their 7th title by defeating defending champions Terenure College in the 2023-24 League Final. They reached the final again but were defeated by Clontarf who won their fourth A.I.L. title.

Ballyclare were competing in the League for the first time ever after gaining promotion to Division 2C by winning the Provincial League Championship final. Monkstown who lost that final, later gained promotion back to the League after a 21-year absence by winning the Provincial League Championship play-off against Bangor.

Format

The League consisted of 5 divisions of 10 teams each playing a double round-robin competition using the standard Rugby union bonus points system. At the completion of the league phase the top 4 teams in Division 1A would qualify for the play-off semi-finals, with the two winners meeting in the final.

The 10th placed teams in Divisions 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B would be relegated to Divisions 1B, 2A, 2B and 2C respectively while the winners of Divisions 1B, 2A, 2B and 2C would be promoted up one division. The 9th placed team in Division 1A along with the 2nd to 4th placed teams in Division 1B would enter a play-off competition with the winner to play in Division 1A for 2025–26. This same play-off competition applied to the other divisions also.

The 10th placed team in Division 2C would be relegated from the A.I.L. to their respective Provincial qualifying league and be replaced by the winner of the All-Ireland Provincial League Championship. The 9th placed team in Division 2C would play the runner-up of the All-Ireland Provincial League Championship with the winner to play in Division 2C for 2025–26.

All-Ireland Provincial League Championship

The All-Ireland Provincial League Championship was contested by the winners of the four provincial qualifying leagues in Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. They were drawn to play in two semi-finals at neutral venues with the winners meeting in the final, also at a neutral venue with the winner playing in Division 2C of the A.I.L. for 2025–26.

The runner-up played away against the 9th place team in Division 2C and the winner of this play-off would also play in Division 2C of the A.I.L. for 2025–26, with the loser returning to their relevant provincial league.

Team changes

The following promotions and relegations occurred at the end of the 2023–24 season:

* via play-offs

Division 1A

Cork Constitution started their 33rd consecutive season in the top division of the All-Ireland League (the only club to be ever present in the top division of the league since its inception in 1990) as defending champions, but by the mid-season break were in mid-table outside the play-off places. Garryowen made a quick return to Division 1A after being relegated in 2022–23, but with just one win in nine games were bottom at Christmas in danger of returning to 1B. Their relegation to 1B was confirmed after Round 17 despite victory against Clontarf. St Mary's College returned to the top flight as Division 1B champions after a six-year absence and took over top spot by the mid-season interval from Ballynahinch who dropped to fourth after back-to-back defeats in December. Clontarf and Terenure completed the top four at Christmas. With one round remaining the semi-finalists were decided as Terenure, with 3 defeats in-a-row in March dropped out of the top four as Lansdowne's 3 victories in March ensured them a place in the play-offs alongside Clontarf, St. Mary's and Cork Con.

Teams

Final Table

Results

Division 1B

After two seasons in Division 1A Shannon returned to Division 1B along with Dublin University who were automatically relegated and both sides found themselves in the bottom half of the table by Christmas with Shannon just 2 points ahead of bottom side Highfield. At the other end of the table Old Belvedere (1st) and Nenagh Ormond (2nd), playing at this level for the first time in their history, having come up from Division 2A as champions, were well clear of the chasing pack at the mid-season break, and Belvo's bonus point victory over Ormond in Round 15 secured the division title and promotion to the top flight. Despite a bonus point victory on the last day of the season, Shannon found themselves being relegated for the second season in-a-row.

Teams

Final Table

Results

Division 2A

Buccaneers returned to Division 2A after two seasons in 1B. By the mid-season break they looked set to be relegated again having lost all 9 of their matches and a home defeat to Greystones in a rescheduled Round 12 fixture on 22 February confirmed their drop to 2B for 2025–26. Instonians play in Division 2A following two successive promotions as champions after their return to the A.I.L. in 2022 and at the halfway point in the season were on course for another repeat as they were clear leaders at the top from second placed Galway Corinthians who, at the third attempt gained promotion to Division 2A via the play-offs. Instonians subsequently gained promotion after Round 16 with victory over Greystones.

Teams

Final Table

Results

Division 2B

Malone find themselves in Division 2B following two successive relegations, while having survived a relegation play-off the previous season UL Bohemians failed to do so last season and also made the drop from Division 2A. A.I.L. debutants Clogher Valley won Division 2C gaining promotion to 2B and by the halfway point in the season were in the promotion play-off places. Promotion play-off winners Galwegians bounced straight back up after being relegated in 2022–23. Wanderers led the table at the Christmas break from Dungannon while at the other end, just a point separated bottom sides Sligo and Malahide and Sligo's victory over Malahide in Round 16 relegated the Lions. In Round 17 Wanderers' victory over Clogher Valley secured the title and promotion.

Teams

Final Table

* Malone deducted 1 point for a breach of the international player clearance process.

Results

Division 2C

After two successive relegations Dolphin find themselves in Division 2C along with Belfast Harlequins who also make the drop from 2B. However at the halfway stage of the season both were in joint 2nd place behind clear leaders Midleton. Joining the division from the junior ranks are Ballyclare, who are making their debut season in the A.I.L., and Monkstown, returning after a 21-year absence and both were in mid-table at the Christmas break. With just 1 win each both Omagh Academicals and Tullamore were propping up the table at the mid-season break. A bonus point win away to Belfast Harlequins on the last day of the season saw Enniscorthy pip long time leaders Midleton for the title and automatic promotion to 2B, while a final day defeat for season strugglers Tullamore saw them relegated from the league.

Teams

Final Table

Results

Play-offs

Division 1A Play-offs

Semi-finals

All-Ireland League Final

''See below.''

Division 1B Play-offs

Semi-finals

* ''City of Armagh relegated from Division 1A''

Play-off Final

* ''Nenagh Ormond promoted to Division 1A''

Division 2A Play-offs

Semi-finals

Play-off Final

* ''Dublin University retain Division 1B status''

Division 2B Play-offs

Semi-finals

Play-off Final

* ''Dungannon promoted to Division 2A, Navan relegated to Division 2B''

Division 2C Play-offs

Semi-finals

Play-off Final

* ''Skerries retain Division 2B status''

Provincial League Championship

Semi-finals

Final

* ''Bective Rangers promoted to A.I.L.''


Play-off

* ''Thomond promoted to A.I.L., Omagh Academicals relegated from A.I.L.''

Final

The All-Ireland League final took place on Sunday, 27 April 2025, at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. The match was broadcast live on TG4 television. Defending champions Cork Constitution played Clontarf, the 4th time the sides met in the Final, with Con having two victories to 'Tarf's one. Clontarf were victorious winning by a single point to claim their fourth League title.

All-Ireland League Final

Source:

Player of the match:

Hugh Cooney (Clontarf)

See also

* Bateman Cup
* Connacht Senior Cup
* Leinster Senior Cup
* Munster Senior Cup
* Ulster Senior Cup

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:All-Ireland League
2024-25
2024–25 rugby union tournaments for clubs
2024–25 in Irish rugby union