Ulster Rugby is delighted to announce details of a revamped AIL 2nd XV League for the 2026/27 season.
All Twelve AIL 2nd XV sides will go head-to-head with the winners taking home the Harden Cup. The opening fixture in the competition will take place this Friday night between Malone 2nds XV and Queens University 2nds XV.
The Harden Cup was first presented to the Ulster Branch in 1898 by CS Harden.
Harden would then go on to serve as President of the Ulster Branch in 1902/03 and was a member of Malone RFC.
The cup was previously played for in the Provincial Leagues but hasn’t been contested since 2021/22.
Welcoming the introduction of a new-look AIL 2nd XV league Ulster Branch President Greg Irwin said, “Club rugby continues to be the heartbeat of the game, and I have no doubt that the players, volunteers and supporters of our All Ireland 2nd XV teams will embrace this new look league.
“The timely reintroduction of the Harden Cup for our AIL 2nd XV teams is an exciting development and the new league format along with the continuing rise in standards right across the domestic game will help create a keenly fought and exciting season for all our competing AIL clubs.”
Not only do we have an important trophy up for grabs, but there’s also a new format for the competing teams.
Each club will play each other once before the league will split into two separate sections.
The top six will then compete for the Harden Cup with the remaining teams playing off for the 2nd XV plaque.
The opening round of fixtures are:
Friday 4th September
7.30pm Malone 2XV v Queens University 2XV
Saturday 5th September
1.00pm Dungannon 2XV v Ballynahinch 2XV
1.00PM Instonians 2XV v Banbridge 2XV
2.30PM City of Armagh 2XV v Clogher Valley 2XV
2.30PM Ballymena 2XV v Ballyclare 2XV
We wish all the participating teams every success for the season ahead.