For many years now we have been covering the following tournaments in club rugby in Ulster and have often wondered – Who are these people, Forster, McCambley, Crawford? Thanks to the work of Colm O’Kane who has completed some work experience for us, we bring you the below potted history of some of the tournaments in Ulster Rugby. we hope you enjoy!
POWERADE ULSTER TOWNS CUP
WHEN IT STARTED
The Ulster Towns Cup stretches back to 1883. The final is traditionally played on Easter Monday at Ravenhill. It is the second oldest competition, the other being the Ulster Schools Cup
WHICH TEAMS PARTICPATE
It is confined to teams outside of Belfast. Since the resumption of play after World War II, where a town is represented by a senior club, their second team is the one that competes.
WHY THE COMPETITION WAS SET UP
The Ulster Towns Cup is a rugby union competition organized by the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. It was founded for competition between teams representing Provincial Towns, i.e. outside Belfast. It used to be that anyone born in a town was entitled to play for that town in this competition. That has now changed and you must be a registered player with the town club. Players can only be registered to one club.
PAST WINNERS
1883 Derry 1947 Armagh
1884 Dungannon 1948 Dungannon
1885 Bessbrook 1949 Dungannon
1886 Bessbrook & Dungannon 1950 Dungannon
1887 Bessbrook 1951 Armagh
1888 Bessbrook 1952 Lurgan
1889 Derry 1953 Ballymena
1890 Armagh 1954 Coleraine
1891 Derry 1955 Lurgan
1892 Derry 1956 Bangor
1893 Derry 1957 Portadown
1894 Dungannon 1958 Lurgan
1895 Dungannon 1959 Portadown
1896 Dungannon 1960 Dungannon
1897 Derry 1961 Dungannon
1898 Derry 1962 Ards
1899 Dungannon 1963 Ballymena
1900 No Competition 1964 Ballynahinch
1901 Final tie not played 1965 Dungannon
1902 Dungannon 1966 Dungannon
1903 Dungannon 1967 Coleraine
1904 Bangor 1968 Bangor
1905 Dungannon 1969 Bangor
1906 Bangor 1970 Ballymena
1907 Dungannon 1971 Armagh
1908 Derry 1972 Bangor
1909 Bangor 1973 Ballymena
1910 Armagh 1974 Ballymena
1911 Carrick 1975 1975 Bangor
1912 Cup withheld 1976 Ballyclare
1913 Carrick 1977 1977 Ballymena
1914 Larne 1978 Ballyclare
1920 Bangor 1979 Ballymena
1921 Larne 1980 Ballyclare
1922 Lurgan 1981 Armagh
1923 Bangor 1982 Carrick
1924 Donaghadee 1983 Magherafelt
1925 Lurgan 1984 Coleraine
1926 Lurgan 1985 Lisburn
1927 Coleraine 1986 Ballyclare
1928 Ballymena 1987 Ballynahinch
1929 Armagh 1988 Ballynahinch
1930 Bangor 1989 Banbridge
1931 Coleraine 1990 Ballynahinch
1932 Ballymena 1991 Ballymena
1933 Banbridge 1992 Carrick
1934 Enniskillen 1993 Banbridge
1935 Derry 1994 Ballymena
1936 Derry 1994/95 Ballynahinch
1937 Enniskillen 1995/96 Dungannon
1938 Coleraine 1996/97 Coleraine
1939 Dromore
1946 Bangor
1997/98 Coleraine
1998/99 Dungannon
1999/00 Ballymena
2000/01 Magherafelt
2001/02 Omagh
2002/03 Ards
2003/04 Ballyclare
2004/05 Ballymena
2005/06 Coleraine
2006/07 Clogher Valley
2007/08 Armagh
2008/09 City of Derry
2009/10 Ballymoney
FIRST TRUST SENIOR CUP
WHEN IT STARTED
1884
WHICH TEAMS PARTICPATE
11 Ulster senior clubs play in the Senior Cup. The Competition is played over 4 rounds
WHY THE COMPETITION WAS SET UP
The competition was set up as a knockout competition for senior clubs .
PAST WINNERS
1884/85 NIFC
1885/86 Queens FC
1886/87 Queens FC
1887/88 Lisburn FC
1888/89 Albion FC
1889/90 Queens FC
1890/91 Queens FC
1891/92 Queens FC
1892/93 NIFC
1893/94 NIFC
1894/95 NIFC
1895/96 NIFC
1896/97 NIFC
1897/98 NIFC
1898/99 NIFC
1899/1900 Queens FC
1900/01 NIFC
1901/02 NIFC
1902/03 Queens FC
1903/04 Malone FC
1904/05 Malone FC
1905/06 Collegians FC
1906/07 Malone FC
1907/08 NIFC
1908/09 Queens
1909/10 Collegians FC
1910/11 Richmond FC
1910/11 Knock FC
1911/12 Queens FC
1912/13 Collegians FC
1913/14 No Competition
1914/15 to 1918/19 No Competition due to the war
1919/20 NIFC
1920/21 Queens FC
1921/22 Instonians FC
1922/23 Instonians FC
1923/24 Queens FC
1924/25 Queens FC
1925/26 Collegians FC
1926/27 Instonians FC
1927/28 Instonians FC
1928/29 Instonians FC
1929/30 NIFC
1930/31 Instonians FC
1931/32 Queens FC
1932/33 Queens FC
1933/34 Instonians FC
1934/35 NIFC
1935/36 Queens FC
1936/37 Queens FC
1937/38 Instonians FC
1938/39 NIFC
1939/45 Competition suspended during the war
1945/46 Instonians FC
1946/47 Queens FC
1947/48 Instonians FC
1948/49 Instonians FC
1949/50 Instonians FC
1950/51 Queens FC
1951/52 Collegians FC
1952/53 CIYMS FC
1953/54 Instonians FC
1954/55 NIFC
1955/56 Instonians FC
1956/57 Instonians FC
1957/58 Instonians FC
1958/59 Queens University FC
1959/60 Queens University FC
1960/61 Collegians FC
1961/62 Collegians FC
1962/63 Ballymena FC
1963/64 Dungannon FC
1964/65 Instonians FC
1965/66 CIYMS
1966/67 CIYMS
1967/68 Dungannon
1968/69 NIFC
1969/70 Ballymena
1970/71 Malone
1971/72 CIYMS
1972/73 NIFC
1973/74 CIYMS
1974/75 Ballymena
1975/76 Dungannon
1976/77 Ballymena
1977/78 CIYMS
1978/79 Instonians
1979/80 Bangor
1980/81 Queens
1981/82 Bangor
1982/83 Collegians
1983/84 Malone
1984/85 Ards
1985/86 Bangor
1986/87 Ards
1987/88 Malone
1988/89 Ballymena
1989/90 Ballymena
1990/91 Ballymena
1991/92 Malone
1992/93 Dungannon
1993/94 Dungannon
1993/94 Dungannon
1994/95 Dungannon
1995/96 Dungannon
1996/97 Ballymena
1997/98 Dungannon
1998/99 Instonians
1999/00 City of Derry
2000/01 Belfast Harlequins
2001/02 Dungannon
2002/03 Ballymena
2003/04 Ballymena
2004/05 Ballymena
2005/06 Belfast Harlequins
2006/07 Dungannon
2007/08 Belfast Harlequins
2008/09 Ballynahinch
McCREA CUP
WHEN IT STARTED
1938
WHICH TEAMS PARTICPATE
Rugby clubs within the Belfast area.
WHY THE COMPETITION WAS SET UP
G G McCrea of Malone was President of the Ulster Branch during 1913-1919 (he remained in office through the cessation of rugby during WW1).
The McCrea Cup was presented as a memorial in the late 1930s.
PAST WINNERS
1938/39 Ophir
1939 – 1945 Competition suspended during war years
1945/46 CIYMS
1946/47 Belfast Royal Academy FP
1947/48 Kings Scholars
1948/49 Kings Scholars
1949/50 Belfast Royal Academy FP
1950/51 YMCA
1951/52 Belfast Royal Academy FP
1952/53 Kings Scholars
1953/54 Belfast Royal Academy FP 1954/55 Kings Scholars
1955/56 Kings Scholars
1956/57 Belfast Royal Academy FP
1957/58 Kings Scholars
1958/59 Instonians 2
1959/60 Instonians 2
1960/61 Collegians 2
1961/62 Collegians 2
1962/63 NIFC
1963/64 Queens 2
1964/65 Queens 2
1965/66 Malone 2
1966/67 Malone
1967/68 Kings Scholars
1968/69 Belfast High School FP
1969/70 Kings Scholars
1970/71 Kings Scholars
1971/72 Kings Scholars
1972/73 Kings Scholars
1973/74 Cooke
1974/75 Cooke
1975/76 Annadale
1976/77 Kings Scholars
1977/78 Grosvenor High School FP
1978/79 Grosvenor High School FP
1979/80 Cooke
1980/81 Grosvenor High School FP
1981/82 Grosvenor High School FP
1982/83 Cooke
1983/84 Grosvenor
1984/84 Grosvenor
1985/86 Cooke
1986/87 RUC
1987/88 Cooke
1988/89 Cooke
1989/90 RUC
1990/91 RUC
1991/92 RUC
1992/93 RUC
1993/94 Instonians
1994/95 RUC
1995/96 Cooke
1996/97 Cooke
1997/98 Civil Service
1998/99 Cooke
1999/00 Cooke
2000/01 B’fast Harlequins
2001/02 Cooke
2002/03 Cooke
2003/04 Belfast Harlequins 2
2004/05 Belfast Harlequins 2
2005/06 Malone 2
2006/07 Cooke
2007/08 Cooke
2008/09 Cooke
2009/10 Cooke
McCAMBLEY CUP
WHEN IT STARTED
1968
WHICH TEAMS PARTICPATE
Magners Minor League teams
WHY THE COMPETITION WAS SET UP
Herbert McCambley was a prominent member of the now defunct Collegians.
The McCambley Cup was presented in his memory in the 1960s
PAST WINNERS
1968/69 Carrick
1969/70 Queens
1970/71 Kings Scholars
1971/72 Ballymena
1972/73 Instonians
1973/74 Rainey OB
1974/75 Carrick
1975/76 Ballymena
1976/77 Instonians
1977/78 Collegians
1978/79 Monaghan
1979/80 Ballymena
1980/81 Lisburn
1981/82 Virginia
1982/83 Grosvenor
1983/84 Academy
1984/85 Malone – Banbridge
1985/86 Armagh
1986/87 Portadown
1987/88 Ards
1988/89 Ards
1989/90 RUC
1990/91 Ards
1991/92 Portadown – Malone
1992/93 Limavady
1993/94 Clogher Valley
1994/95 Ards 5
1995/96 Cooke 6
1996/97 Ballymena 6
1997/98 Ballynahinch 5
1998/99 Ballymena 6
1999/00 Ballymena 6
2000/01 Portadown 6
2001/02 Ballynahinch 7
2002/03 Bangor 3
2003/04 CIYMS 3
2004/05 Ards 5
2005/06 Ards 5
2006/07 Ards 5
2007/08 Ballymena 6
2008/09 Ballymena 5
2009/10 Ards 4
THE CRAWFORD CUP
WHEN IT STARTED
1967
WHICH TEAMS PARTICPATE
Magners Junior 1, 2 & 3 teams
WHY THE COMPETITION WAS SET UP
Named in memory of WE (Ernie) Crawford, a famous full back capped 30 times for Ireland in the 1920’s in the days when there were only 4 internationals in the year. He was a Collegian but played his club rugby for Lansdowne. He was a Past President of IRFU
PAST WINNERS
1967/68 Queens
1968/69 Civil Service
1969/70 Malone
1970/71 North
1971/72 North
1972/73 Queens
1973/74 CIYMS
1974/75 Malone
1975/76 Malone
1976/77 Malone
1977/78 Armagh
1978/79 Instonians
1979/80 Instonians
1980/81 Enniskillen
1981/82 Coleraine
1982/83 Malone
1983/84 North
1984/85 Malone
1985/86 Instonians
1986/87 North
1987/88 Malone
1988/89 Ballynahinch
1989/90 Collegians
1990/91 CIYMS
1991/92 Malone
1992/93 Malone 2
1993/94 CIYMS
1994/95 Dungannon 3
1995/96 Ballynahinch 2
1996/97 Omagh 2
1997/98 Banbridge 2
1998/99 Ballyclare 2
1999/00 Ballyclare 2
2000/01 Ballyclare 2
2001/02 Ballyclare 2
2002/03 Ballynahinch 2
2003/04 Belfast Harlequins 4
2004/05 Coleraine 2
2005/06 Ballynahinch 3
2006/07 Dungannon 3
2007/08 Ballynahinch 3
2008/09 City of Derry 2
2009/10 City of Derry 2
GORDON WEST CUP
WHEN IT STARTED
The Competition first began in 2000 with the final between Lurgan and Strabane
WHICH TEAMS PARTICPATE
Kukri Qualifying Three teams play in the Gordon West Cup. The first stage of the competition is played as a league format before going on to knockout.
WHY THE COMPETITION WAS SET UP
It is played as a memorial to Mr Gordon West. He was a past president of Ulster Branch, IRFU who played at and served Armagh throughout his life.
PAST WINNERS
1999/00 Lurgan
2000/01 Antrim
2001/02 Antrim
2002/03 Irish Preditors
2003/04 Ballymoney
2004/05 Larne
2005/06 Ballymoney
2006/07 Academy
2007/08 UUC
2008/09 Grosvenor
2009/10 Letterkenny
FORSTER CUP
WHEN IT STARTED
The Competition first began in 1967.
WHICH TEAMS PARTICPATE
Junior 4 & 5 teams.
WHY THE COMPETITION WAS SET UP
Named after Jacob Foster, a lifelong servant of Armagh and Past President of Ulster Branch, IRFU
PAST WINNERS
1967/68 Instonians
1968/69 Ards
1969/70 Ards
1970/71 Collegians
1971/72 Carrick
1972/73 Rainey OB
1973/74 Bangor
1974/75 Collegians
1975/76 Malone
1976/77 Malone
1977/78 Instonians
1978/79 Instonians
1979/80 North
1980/81 Ards
1981/82 Cooke
1982/83 Monaghan
1983/84 Cavan
1984/85 RUC
1985/86 Cavan
1986/87 Letterkenny
1987/88 Armagh
1988/89 Donegal
1989/90 Malone
1990/91 Malone
1991/92 Dromore
1992/93 Ballyclare
1993/94 CIYMS
1994/95 Ballymena
1995/96 Ballymena 4
1996/97 Bangor 4
1997/98 Bangor 4
1998/99 Ballymena 4
1999/00 Ballymena 4
2000/01 Dungannon 4
2001/02 Malone 3
2002/03 Malone 3
2003/04 Dromore 3
2004/05 Ballymena 4
2005/06 Enniskillen 3
2006/07 Inishowen drew with
Ballynahinch 4
2007/08 Inishowen
2008/09 Grosvenor 2
2009/10 Enniskillen 3
BUTLER SHIELD
WHEN IT STARTED
It began in 1993 and is sometimes referred to as the McCambley plate.
WHICH TEAMS PARTICPATE
Magners minor league teams.
WHY THE COMPETITION WAS SET UP
Teams that are knocked out of the McCambley cup compete in the Bulter Shield. It is named in memmory of RR (Tony) Butler, a Collegian and Past President of Ulster Branch, IRFU, and long serving member of Ulster Branch
PAST WINNERS
1993/94 Ballymoney 4
1994/95 Ards 5
1995/96 Coleraine 5
1996/97 Malone 7
1997/98 Donaghadee 4
1998/99 Grosvenor 2
1999/00 Enniskillen 4
2000/01 Armagh 5
2001/02 Ballynahinch 6
2002/03 Cooke 4
2003/04 Letterkenny
2004/05 Malone 5
2005/06 Cooke 4
2006/07 Armagh 3
2007/08 Rainey OB 4
2008/09 Malone 4
2009/10 Ballynahinch 6
