Bank of Ireland Towns Cup | Round 1 kicks off this weekend

Competitions Honorary Secretary, Alan Egner, said, "The Bank of Ireland Towns Cup holds a special place in local club rugby, with a rich history going back over 140 years. The traditional Easter Monday final is a highlight in the rugby calendar, which always draws a big crowd of passionate supporters. I look forward to some hotly contested games over the coming months and of course the Kingspan final at Easter. Our sincere thanks to sponsors Bank of Ireland for their continued generous support for rugby in Ulster."

This year's competition sees a refreshed format with 10 Championship 1 teams, 8 Championship 2 teams and 10 AIL 2XV league teams participating. Four teams have received a bye to the second round - Enniskillen, Dromore, City of Derry and Cooke.

The McCrea Cup will now become the subsidiary competition for first round losers.

Bank Of Ireland Towns Cup | Round 1, Saturday 7 December

<table style="minWidth: 75px">
<colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><strong>Home</strong></p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><strong>Away</strong></p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p><strong>Kick-off</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Rainey 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Randalstown</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>13.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Limavady&nbsp;</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Malone 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.00</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Portadown</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Ballymoney</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Monaghan&nbsp;</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Cavan</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Lisburn</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Ballymena 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.00</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Lurgan&nbsp;</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Queen's University 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Grosvenor&nbsp;</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Instonians 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Coleraine</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>City of Armagh 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Clogher Valley 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Ballynahinch 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Banbridge 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Carrickfergus</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Ards</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Ballyclare 2XV</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Academy&nbsp;</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>Bangor&nbsp;</p></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><p>14.30</p></td></tr></tbody>
</table>

Enniskillen are the current holders of the Bank of Ireland Towns Cup, having beaten Ballymena 2XV in last season's final at Kingspan Stadium.