Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup

The Munster Schools Senior Cup or Munster Senior Cup is the under-age rugby union competition for schools affiliated to the Munster Branch of the IRFU.

Schools rugby is seen by the IRFU as one of the two channels for players to learn their rugby and advance to senior levels. This notwithstanding, the schools competitions generate significant interest in their own right[1] whilst old rivalries are re-awakened,[2] and nostalgic memories abound ensuring that nobody who has been through the system remains untouched.[3]

The inaugural Munster Schools Senior Cup took place in 1909 and since then Cork city's two all-boys schools have been very much to the fore, as the only rugby playing schools in the city. Christian Brothers College have 30 titles, whilst Presentation Brothers College have 29. Rockwell College (26) were once the team to beat in the competition, holding the record of most wins until the 1980s. However, Rockwell have only won the cup five times since.

Limerick's dominant club scene, smaller population and larger number of competing schools has led to more modest achievements. Limerick CBS (4) won Limerick's first trophies in the 1920s and 30s, followed by Crescent College (11) which contributed three in the 1940s and 50s whilst St. Munchin's (5) added their first in 1968. Mungret College, merged into Crescent College in 1974, took the trophy once in 1941. In addition Ardscoil Rís, and St. Enda's have all competed in finals. Glenstal Abbey is the most recent winner and their 2018 win is the first in their history.

The competition's final generally takes place every year on St. Patrick's day and alternates between being played in Thomond Park or Musgrave Park — unless there are two teams from one city playing, in which case the game takes place in that city.

Many players that have taken part in (and won) the Senior cup have gone on to represent Munster and Ireland. Former winners of the Cup include:, Ronan O'Gara (PBC), Peter Stringer (PBC), Simon Zebo (PBC), David Wallace (Crescent), Donnacha Ryan (St. Munchin's), Conor Murray (St. Munchin's), Keith Earls (St. Munchin's), Jerry Flannery (St. Munchin's) and Paul O'Connell (Ardscoil Rís) also played Senior Cup rugby for their respective schools.

The competition is currently sponsored by the Clayton Hotels Group.

Winners
Team Winner Winning Years
1 Christian Brothers College, Cork 31 1909, 1913, 1916, 1919, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1936, 1943, 1944, 1956, 1962, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2016, 2019, 2020
2 Presentation Brothers College, Cork 30 1918, 1920, 1927, 1932, 1935, 1939, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2020
3 Rockwell College, Cashel 26 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1937, 1940, 1942, 1950, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1985, 2001, 2011, 2012, 2015
4 Crescent College, Limerick 11 1947, 1949, 1951, 1963, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2013, 2014
5 St. Munchin's College, Limerick 5 1968, 1982, 2002, 2004, 2006
6 Limerick CBS 4 1926, 1931, 1933, 1934
7 The Abbey, Tipperary 1 1921
P.B.C. Cobh 1938
Mungret College, Limerick 1941
Castletroy College, Limerick 2008
Glenstal Abbey School, Limerick 2018

Honours

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

See also

References
  1. "Breaking New Ground". Irish Independent. 21 January 2009.
  2. "From little acorns..." Irish Independent. 21 January 2009.
  3. "Then a hero comes along". Irish Independent. 21 January 2009.
  4. "Christians pack superior punch in Cork derby". Irish Times. 17 March 2003. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. "'Cup win was inspired by a collective never-say-die spirit'". Irish Independent. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. "CBC Crowned Munster Schools Senior Cup Champions". Munster Rugby. 18 March 2003. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  7. "Senior Cup title for St Munchin's". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2004. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  8. "Avonmore Schools Senior Cup Final". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2005. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  9. "St. Munchin's College win Munster Schools Senior Cup". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  10. "Zebo wonder try sets up Pres victory". Irish Examiner. 20 March 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  11. "McCarthy steers Limerick 'minnows' to first title". Irish Independent. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  12. "Schools Senior Cup Final CBC v Rockwell". Munster Rugby. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  13. "P.B.C. win Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Final". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  14. "Rockwell Win Avonmore Milk Schools Cup Final". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  15. "Rockwell Retain Avonmore Schools Senior Cup Title". Munster Rugby. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  16. "Crescent End Rockwell's Three In A Row". Munster Rugby. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  17. "Two In A Row For Crescent". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  18. "26th Schools Senior Cup Title For Rockwell". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  19. "CBC Win Their 29th Schools Senior Cup Title". Munster Rugby. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  20. "PBC Win 29th Munster Schools Senior Cup Title". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  21. "Glenstal Abbey Lift Historic Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup". Munster Rugby. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  22. "CBC Lift Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup". Munster Rugby. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
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