This is the first time in over 15 years that two Ulster teams have been in the top flight of Irish rugby, and what a game it is shaping up to be. The last time we had two Ulster teams playing at this level was during the 2008/09 season, when Ballymena narrowly defeated Dungannon.
The Ulster derby will be taking place on Saturday with a 14.30 KO, Armagh hosting Ballynahinch at the Palace Grounds.
After winning the 1B Division last year, Armagh were promoted at the start of this season and are currently sitting 9th in the table. Last week they travelled to Dublin to play Terenure College, and lost 29-17.
Ahead of the game we asked head coach from Armagh, Chris Parker how he felt coming up against an Ulster team in the AIL 1A division and he commented,
“When the fixtures are released the Ulster derbies are always the first games you look for, facing each other in the top division in Ireland adds a bit more spice to the occasion. It’s been over four years since we played each other in division 1B in an AIL fixture and to now do it in 1A shows the development both clubs have made in that space of time.”
Ballynahinch are currently 5th in the table, having won 4 games this season. Last week they hosted Young Munster, and narrowly missed a win with a score of 13-16.
The last time these two sides came up against each other was earlier this year, in September, during a battle in the Ulster Premiership Division One Final. Ballynahinch won the Stevenson Shield for the third year in a row, after beating City of Armagh 38-17.
We spoke to James Kirk, Club President at Ballynahinch about the upcoming fixture and here is what he had to say:
“At Ballynahinch we are delighted to have a local derby at last! Throughout our journey in Division 1A over seven of the last ten seasons our nearest neighbour has been Clontarf so we welcome City of Armagh to Division 1A and congratulate them on their rise through the ranks. In fact we see a lot of ourselves in their recent never say die Division 1B campaign and strong start to life in the top league.”
Along with this head to head in Division 1A, there are a series of other Ulster derbies happening in the AIL this weekend:
Division 2A
- Malone v Ballymena
Division 2B
- Instonians v Belfast Harlequins
- Rainey v Dungannon
Division 2C
- Clogher Valley v Omagh - this will be the first time that these near neighbours will have played against each other in the All Ireland League