The 2023/24 season is the third year of competition with an U21 structure known as Club Academy. The Club Academy, Merit Table structure allows clubs to prioritise young players transitioning from Age Grade to Adult rugby with a series of games that allows 18 -21-year-olds to play together.
While players transitioning from Age Grade to Adult rugby are still encouraged to filter into the Adult teams at their home club, this structure allows an opportunity throughout the season to come together as a friendship group and play together. This opportunity was identified during the 2020/21 Adult Participation Review and has proven very popular with participants since its inception.
Wednesday 15 November saw three games take place across the province, with the first ‘match week’ of the season. Club Academy teams at Donaghadee RFC, Ballymena and Banbridge hosted their counterparts from Ballynahinch, Instonians and Queens University respectively. More than 100 players took part on the night, with further teams scheduled to kick off in the coming weeks.
Competing Teams
- Ards RFC
- Ballyclare RFC
- Ballymena RFC
- Ballynahinch RFC
- Banbridge RFC
- Carrickfergus RFC
- Donaghadee RFC
- Dromore RFC
- Dungannon RFC
- Enniskillen RFC
- Instonians RFC
- Omagh Accies RFC
- Portadown RFC
- Queens University RFC
Match Week 1 – Results
Banbridge 33 – 0 Queens University
Ballymena 41 – 14 Instonians
Donaghadee 17 – 7 Ballynahinch
