Irish rugby union system

The top level of competition in the Irish rugby union system is the Celtic League which is a league of professional clubs from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Ireland currently has four clubs in the Celtic League.

Ireland also has a domestic competition the All Ireland League and Provincial League run by the different branches of the IRFU.

Celtic League

This is a closed league with no promotion or relegation. The teams also compete in the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup.

All Ireland League

The main domestic league in Ireland is the All Ireland League. This was started in 1990 and has now expanded to three divisions with a total of 48 senior clubs.

In each division the club finishing on top after the league series will receive a Union plaque but is not deemed the champion club of that division. Champions of each division are decided on a play-off of the top four clubs. First plays fourth & second plays third. The winners then meet in a final.

The bottom two clubs in division one are relegated to division two; they are replaced by the top two clubs from division two. Similarly, the bottom two from division two are replaced by the top two from division three. The team finishing last in division three are relegated and replaced by the winner of the round robin competition between the winners of the Connacht, Leinster, Munster & Ulster Provincial Leagues.

Provincial Leagues

There are four provincial leagues based on the historic provinces of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. The winners of each provincial league play a round robin competition with the winner being promoted to the All Ireland Division three.

The provincial leagues include the following Senior club sides:

ee also

* Rugby union in Ireland