With only a couple of days left until players across the province are back lining-out for their club, Ulster Rugby is encouraging all players and coaches to register, or renew, their profile on Rugby Connect.
This is an essential step for everyone ahead of competing in the 2023/24 season.
Visit Rugby Connect for more information.
The new 2023/24 domestic season marks the introduction of a number of exciting new developments across the Women’s and Men’s game, including:
Women’s Game League Restructure: The Conference League, which was previously a developmental league, has been integrated into the Championship to create Championship A and Championship B. This change marks a positive progression in the Women’s game in the province, as it reflects the improving quality of the teams involved, with a clear pathway for progression with promotion and relegation now in place between the leagues.
Women’s Game Silverware Opportunities: From the 2023/24 season onwards, the Women’s Junior Cup and Shield will be for Premiership clubs in the province to compete for. Championship clubs will compete for the Suzanne Fleming Cup and Shield. This will allow clubs to compete for silverware against other clubs at the same level in the domestic league. The Cup competitions will kick-off in March, with the draw for the fixtures set to be held next month.
Men’s Game League Restructure: To ensure that clubs across Ulster have competitive rugby as far into the season as possible, the Men’s Junior Cup group stages have been brought forward, and mark the start of the new season on Saturday 26 August. This change, which allows clubs to continue to compete in the league should they be unsuccessful in cup fixtures with an extended league deadline of Saturday 23 March, follows consultation with clubs at Fixture Planning workshops hosted by Ulster Rugby at the end of last season.
New Men’s Teams: Ulster Rugby would like to welcome Ballyclare 5 and Carrickfergus 4 who will join the league for the 2023/24 season, and show growing participation in the game across both of these clubs.
Details of domestic fixtures for the 2023/24 season can be found here.