Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage Draw 2026/2027
Group Stage Qualifying 1 (on or before Saturday 26th September 2026)
Match A: Grosvenor Grammar School v Lurgan College
Group Stage Qualifying 2 (on or before Saturday 3rd October 2026)
Match B: Antrim Grammar School v Winner of Match A
Group Stages:
| No | Tier 2 Schools | Tier 3 Schools | Tier 4 Schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballyclare High School | Banbridge Academy | Cambridge House |
| 2 | Bangor Grammar School | Dalriada School Ballymoney | Larne Grammar School |
| 3 | Coleraine Grammar School | Dromore High | Belfast HS |
| 4 | Down High | Foyle College | Winner of Match B |
| 5 | Enniskillen Royal GS | Friends' School Lisburn | **** |
| 6 | Rainey Endowed | Limavady GS | **** |
| 7 | Regent House | Omagh Academy | **** |
| 8 | Royal School Dungannon | Portadown College | **** |
Group Stage Qualifying:
1. Antrim Grammar School
2. Grosvenor Grammar School
3. Lurgan College
Development League:
- Strabane Academy
- Bangor Academy
- Wellington College
Draw:
| Team | Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RS Dungannon | Coleraine GS | Ballyclare HS | Down HS |
| 2 | Bangor G S | Enniskillen Royal GS | Rainey Endowed | Regent House |
| 3 | Banbridge Academy | Portadown College | Limavady GS | Dromore HS |
| 4 | Omagh Academy | Friends' School | Foyle College | Dalriada School |
| 5 | Larne GS | Belfast HS | Winner of match B | Cambridge House |
Matches:
| Round 1 | 1 v 4, 2 v 3, 5-Bye | 3 v 2, 1 v 5, 4-Bye | 1 v 4, 2 v 3, 5-Bye | 2 v 5, 4 v 1, 3-Bye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 2 | 3 v 1, 4 v 5, 2-Bye | 2 v 5, 4 v 1, 3-Bye | 3 v 1, 4 v 5, 2-Bye | 3 v 2, 1 v 5, 4-Bye |
| Round 3 | 5 v 3, 1 v 2, 4-Bye | 1 v 2, 4 v 3, 5-Bye | 5 v 3, 1 v 2, 4-Bye | 1 v 2, 4 v 3, 5-Bye |
| Round 4 | 2 v 5, 3 v 4, 1-Bye | 5 v 4, 3 v 1, 2-Bye | 2 v 5, 3 v 4, 1-Bye | 5 v 4, 3 v 1, 2-Bye |
| Round 5 | 4 v 2, 5 v 1, 3-Bye | 2 v 4, 5 v 3, 1-Bye | 4 v 2, 5 v 1, 3-Bye | 2 v 4, 5 v 3, 1-Bye |
Expected Fixture Dates:
- Round 1 (on or before Saturday 10th October 2026)
- Round 2 (on or before Saturday 17th October 2026)
- Round 3 (on or before Saturday 7th November 2026)
- Round 4 (on or before Saturday 28th November 2026)
- Round 5 (on or before Saturday 5th December 2026)
It is expected that schools will be able to play a full block of fixtures based on the Group Stage Draw.
The four group winners and four runners-up from the group stages will qualify for the knockout stages of the Schools' Cup and Subsidiary Shield, where they will be joined by the eight Tier 1 teams: Ballymena Academy, Belfast Royal Academy, Campbell College Belfast, Methodist College Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Royal School Armagh, Sullivan Upper School and Wallace High School.
The remaining teams will then enter a knockout competition for the Schools' Trophy and Schools' Bowl.