In the AIL 2nd XV league, there will be ten Ulster teams involved. The Provincial Premiership 1 and 2 will have eight teams across the two levels. Meanwhile, there will be ten teams in Championship 1 and Championship 2, and nine teams in Championship 3.
The Provincial Regional North, Provincial Regional East 1 and Provincial Regional East 2 levels will have eight teams each – and the same goes for the Regional South 1, Regional South 2 and Regional East 1. Completing the provincial domestic league are Regional East 2 and Regional North with seven teams each.
Following the first round of pool fixtures on Saturday 26 August, Round 2 of the Junior Cup and Shield will take place on Saturday 4 November, with the final round to be held on Saturday 6 January. The top two finishers in each group will move on the Quarter-Final stages on 10 February.
To kick-off the season, Queens 2 travel to Cooke RFC in the opening game of Junior Cup Pool 2, in a repeat of last season’s McCrea Cup Final, in what is surely one of the ties of the round. Enniskillen RFC played their part in a thrilling Junior Cup Final last season, and will be looking to go one better this year, and will kick-off their season when they face Malone 2 in the first round of fixtures. Defending champions Ballyclare RFC have been drawn in a tough group alongside City of Armagh 2, Carrickfergus RFC, and CIYMS.
The Men’s Ulster Premiership also gets underway on Saturday 26 August under a revamped format. Division 1 now comprises of eight teams and is split into two pools. The winners of each pool will play each other on Saturday 16 September to be crowned champion of the Premiership. The bottom-placed side in each pool will also play each other. The loser of this fixture will drop down into the newly-formed Senior Shield competition, whilst the winner will join the remaining six Division 1 sides, and the winner of Division 2, in the Senior Cup Quarter-Final draw. Each side will face each other once in Division 2. The club with the most points following these fixtures will be crowned the winner, and secure a spot in the Quarter-Final of the Senior Cup. Newly-promoted, Clogher Valley RFC, will look to make an immediate impact in the competition against Bangor RFC, ahead of their inaugural AIL 2C campaign.
Portadown RFC return to Championship 1, following their promotion from Championship 2, and face a tough test on the opening day of the league season away to last year’s Towns Cup and Junior Cup winners, Ballyclare RFC, at the Cloughan. Ballymoney RFC also join Portadown RFC in Championship 1 for this season, following a thrilling race for second place in last year’s Championship 2, with four sides finishing within a single point of one and other. They make the trip west to face City of Derry RFC, who will be looking to build on their fifth place finish from last season.
Randalstown RFC, who agonisingly missed out on promotion to Championship 1 last year by a single point, will be looking for a strong start against Donaghadee RFC at home in the 23/24 Championship 2 campaign. Monaghan RFC will look to build on a vintage 22/23 season, where they picked up the Championship 3 league title, the Gordon West Cup, and enjoyed a run to the Semi-Finals of the Towns Cup. They kick off their league season against Ards RFC. Newly-promoted Letterkenny RFC take on Limavady RFC, who come down from Championship 1 in another intriguing opening day clash.
Championship 3 is reduced to nine teams for the 23/24 season, due to the promotion of Clogher Valley to the AIL. Last year’s third-placed side, Lisburn RFC, will be able sit and watch the action unfold on the opening day of the season, as they have drawn a ‘bye’ in the first round of league fixtures. Newry RFC took home silverware in the shape of the Gordon West Plate in 22/23, and the club will be hoping to return to winning ways with a trip to Belfast High School Former Pupils (BHSFP) on the opening day of the season.
The 2nd XV League has been bolstered by the inclusion of Clogher Valley 2 and Instonians 2, whilst Belfast Harlequins 2 drop out to Provincial Premier 1. Provincial Premierships 1 & 2 both look to be highly competitive leagues, and these clubs will fight it out on a home and away basis.
In-line with the Adult Participation Review, the Provincial Regional and Regional league seasons will continue on a phased basis.
Details of the 2023/24 Men’s domestic fixtures for the 2023/24 season can be found here.
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.