British and Irish Cup

Annual rugby union competition

British and Irish Cup

Sport| Rugby union
Instituted| 2009; 16 years ago (2009)
Inaugural season| 2009–10
Ceased| 2018; 7 years ago (2018)
Number of teams| 20–32
Nations|  England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Jersey
Holders|  Ealing Trailfinders (2017-18)
Most titles|  Leinster A
Munster A (2 titles)
Related competition| RFU Championship
Pro14

The British and Irish Cup was an annual rugby union competition for second tier, semi-professional clubs and the reserves or developing teams from professional clubs from Great Britain and Ireland. It took place for the first time in the 2009–10 season, and ran for 9 seasons.

After clubs from the English Championship decided to withdraw from the 2018–19 season, the competition was abolished. The Welsh and Irish rugby unions thereafter reinstituted the Celtic Cup competition for its development sides.[1]

Leinster A and Munster A were the most successful sides in the competition, winning the trophy twice each. Five English clubs shared the remaining competition wins.

## Format

[edit]

A total of twenty-four teams from England (twelve), Ireland (three), Scotland (three) and Wales (six) competed in the inaugural competition. This remained the case for the first three seasons, though the format varied slightly in each season. For the 2012–13 season, the competition was expanded to 32 teams; England (twelve), Ireland (four), Scotland (four), and Wales (twelve) and for the first time, pool stage games were played on a "home and away" basis. For the 2013–14 season the number of teams competing was reduced to 24, with the Welsh entrants reduced from twelve to four, and the following season the competition was reduced to twenty teams with the withdrawal of the Scottish clubs.[2]

From the 2015–16 season to its end in 2018, Wales was represented by regional Premiership Select sides from the four Welsh regions.[3]

## Finals

[edit]

Year  | Winner  | Score  | Runner-up  | Venue  | Attendance

|
|
|
|
|

2009–10 | Cornish Pirates | 23 – 14  |  Munster A | Recreation Ground, Camborne | 4,240
2010–11 | Bristol | 17 – 14  |  Bedford Blues | Memorial Ground, Bristol | 4,375
2011–12 | Munster A | 31 – 12  |  Cross Keys | Musgrave Park, Cork | 3,000
2012–13 | Leinster A | 18 – 17  |  Newcastle Falcons | Kingston Park, Newcastle | 3,838
2013–14 | Leinster A | 44 – 17  |  Leeds Carnegie | Donnybrook, Dublin | 2,024
2014–15 | Worcester Warriors | 35 – 5  |  Doncaster Knights | Castle Park, Doncaster | 3,115
2015–16 | London Welsh | 33 – 10  |  Yorkshire Carnegie | Headingley Stadium, Leeds | 3,107
2016–17 | Munster A | 29 – 28  |  Jersey Reds | Irish Independent Park, Cork | 983
2017–18 | Ealing Trailfinders | 22 – 7  |  Leinster A | Trailfinders Sports Ground, London | 1,386

## Teams

[edit]

Country | Team | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| Bedford Blues | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Birmingham & Solihull | Y | Y |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Bristol | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |  | Y
| Cornish Pirates | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Coventry | Y |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Doncaster Knights | Y | Y | Y | Y |  | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Ealing Trailfinders |  |  |  |  | Y |  | Y | Y | Y
| Esher |  | Y | Y |  |  |  |  |  |
| Exeter Chiefs | Y |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Jersey Reds[a] |  |  |  | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Yorkshire Carnegie |  |  | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| London Irish |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Y |
| London Scottish |  |  | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| London Welsh | Y | Y | Y |  | Y |  | Y | Y |
| Moseley | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |  |
| Newcastle Falcons |  |  |  | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Nottingham Rugby | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Plymouth Albion | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |  |  |
| Richmond |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Y | Y
| Rotherham Titans | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Worcester Warriors |  | Y |  |  |  | Y |  |  |
| Aberavon | Y |  | Y | Y | Y | Y |  |  |
| Cardiff | Y |  |  | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Llanelli | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |  |  |  |
| Neath | Y | Y | Y | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Newport | Y | Y |  | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Pontypridd | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |  |  |
| Llandovery |  | Y |  | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Swansea |  | Y | Y | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Cross Keys |  |  | Y | Y | Y | Y |  |  |
| Bedwas |  |  |  | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Bridgend Ravens |  |  |  | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Carmarthen Quins |  |  |  | Y |  | Y |  |  |
| Cardiff Blues Premiership Select |  |  |  |  |  |  | Y | Y | Y
| Dragons Premiership Select |  |  |  |  |  |  | Y | Y | Y
| Ospreys Premiership Select |  |  |  |  |  |  | Y | Y | Y
| Scarlets Premiership Select |  |  |  |  |  |  | Y | Y | Y
| Ayr | Y | Y | Y |  | Y |  |  |  |
| Gael Force | Y |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Heriot's FP | Y |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Currie |  | Y | Y |  |  |  |  |  |
| Melrose |  | Y | Y | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Dundee HSFP |  |  |  | Y |  |  |  |  |
| Gala |  |  |  | Y | Y |  |  |  |
| Stirling County |  |  |  | Y | Y |  |  |  |
| Edinburgh Academicals |  |  |  |  | Y |  |  |  |
| Connacht Eagles |  |  |  | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Leinster A | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Munster A | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y
| Ulster A | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y

## History

[edit]

### 2009–10 Competition

[edit]

Main article: 2009–10 British and Irish Cup

The inaugural competition was contested by 24 teams:

* 12 teams from the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby
* 3 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
* 3 Scottish sides, 2 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership and Gael Force, a side made up of a combination of National Academy players
* 6 top clubs from the Principality Premiership, the second tier of Welsh rugby.

The teams were divided into four pools of six, playing over five weekends during the Autumn International and Six Nations windows, with semi-finals on 24 and 25 April and the final on 16 May.[4][5]

Each team played each of the other five teams in its pool once (home or away). Two English teams (Cornish Pirates and Doncaster) and two Irish teams (Munster A and Ulster Ravens) topped their respective pools leading to an all-English semi-final and an all-Irish semi-final. Cornish Pirates defeated Munster A in the inaugural final.

| Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |

|  25 April 2010 - Camborne | |

|  Cornish Pirates |  43

|  16 May 2010 - Camborne

|  Doncaster |  5 |

|  Cornish Pirates |  23

|  24 April 2010 - Thomond Park

| |  Munster A |  14

|  Munster A |  27

|  Ulster Ravens |  3 |

### 2010–11 Competition

[edit]

Main article: 2010–11 British and Irish Cup

The allocation of teams for the second season was very similar to that of the first:

* 12 teams from the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby
* 3 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
* 3 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership, the second tier of Scottish rugby
* 6 top clubs from the Principality Premiership, the second tier of Welsh rugby.

The format closely mirrored that of the first season, the only difference being the introduction of a quarter final stage

The teams were divided into four pools of six, playing over five weekends during the Autumn International and Six Nations windows, with quarter-finals on 5 or 6 March, semi-finals on 23 April and the final on 7 May. Each team played each of the other five teams in its pool once (home or away), with the top two teams in each pool qualifying for the knock-out stages:

| Quarter-finals| | Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

| 5 March 2011 - Sardis Road | | | | |

|  Pontypridd| 12

| 23 April 2011 - Sardis Road

|  Llanelli| 10 |

|  Pontypridd| 25

| 6 March 2011 - Memorial Stadium

| |  Bristol| 36 |

|  Bristol| 29

| | 7 May 2011 - Memorial Stadium

|  Ayr| 19 |

|  Bristol| 17

| 5 March 2011 - Goldington Road

| |  Bedford Blues| 14

|  Bedford Blues| 50

| 23 April 2011 - Goldington Road |

|  Leinster A| 15 |

|  Bedford Blues| 43

| 5 March 2011 - Sixways Stadium

| |  Worcester Warriors| 27 |

|  Worcester Warriors| 57

|  Moseley| 15 |

### 2011–12 Competition

[edit]

Main article: 2011–12 British and Irish Cup

The allocation of teams for the third season was identical to that of the second season:

* 12 teams from the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby
* 3 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
* 3 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership, the second tier of Scottish rugby
* 6 top clubs from the Principality Premiership, the second tier of Welsh rugby.

The pool stage saw a change in format and consisted of six pools of four teams playing cross-pool matches, giving each team two home and two away matches. Matches between English teams were played mid-week. Pool matches took place from 21 September to 18 December. The top team from each pool qualified for the quarter-finals, together with the two runners–up with the best records.[6][7]

| Quarter-finals| | Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

| 22 January 2012 – Donnybrook| | | | |

|  Leinster A| 32

| 6 April 2012 – RDS

|  Pontypridd| 0 |

|  Leinster A| 29

| 20 January 2012 – Ravenhill

| |  Munster A| 36 |

|  Ulster Ravens| 9

| | 27 April 2012 – Musgrave Park

|  Munster A| 20 |

|  Munster A| 31

| 21 January 2012 – Pandy Park

| |  Cross Keys| 12

|  Cross Keys| 32

| 7 April 2012 – Pandy Park|

|  Llanelli| 8 |

|  Cross Keys| 20

| 22 January 2012 – Mennaye Field

| |  Cornish Pirates| 16 |

|  Cornish Pirates| 33

|  Nottingham| 3 |

### 2012–13 Competition

[edit]

Main article: 2012–13 British and Irish Cup

The competition was considerably revamped, with expansion from 24 to 32 teams playing each other home and away in the pool stages (previously, pool matches were played home or away). The allocation of teams for the fourth season was therefore:

* 12 teams from the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby
* 4 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
* 4 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership, the second tier of Scottish rugby
* 12 clubs from the Principality Premiership, the second tier of Welsh rugby.

The pool stage saw a considerable change in format and consisted of eight pools of four teams, giving each team three home and three away matches. Pool matches took place on the same weekends as the Heineken and Amlin Cups. The top team from each pool qualified for the quarter-finals.[8]

The final round of pool matches, due to be played on the weekend of 18/19/20 January, was considerably disrupted. Of 16 matches, 7 were postponed: Connacht Eagles v Newport was not played until 27 April, the weekend of the semi-finals.

| Quarter-finals| | Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|  6 April 2013 - Goldington Road | | | | |

|  Bedford Blues |  32

|  27 April 2013 - Goldington Road

|  Llanelli |  18 |

|  Bedford Blues |  15

|  5 April 2013 - Kingston Park

| |  Newcastle Falcons |  18 |

|  Newcastle Falcons |  72

| |  17 May 2013 – Kingston Park

|  Nottingham |  17 |

|  Newcastle Falcons |  17

|  7 April 2013 - Mennaye Field

| |  Leinster A |  18

|  Cornish Pirates |  9

|  26 April 2013 - Garryowen FC |

|  Munster A |  10 |

|  Munster A |  15

|  7 April 2013 - Memorial Stadium

| |  Leinster A |  17 |

|  Bristol |  26

|  Leinster A |  30 |

### 2013–14 Competition

[edit]

Main article: 2013–14 British and Irish Cup

The number of teams playing in the fifth competition was reduced from 32 to 24, with a reduction of Welsh teams from twelve to four:

* 12 teams from the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby
* 4 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
* 4 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership, the second tier of Scottish rugby
* 4 clubs from the Principality Premiership, the second tier of Welsh rugby.

The twelve Principality Premiership Teams participated in regional play-offs which saw Aberavon, Cross Keys, Llanelli, and Pontypridd qualify for the competition proper.

The pool stage consisted of six pools of four teams, giving each team three home and three away matches. The top team from each group qualified for the quarter-finals, along with two runners-up with the best playing records.[9] The ranking criteria of the quarter-finalists has been altered slightly from earlier seasons. Previously, the six pool winners were seeded 1-6 and the two runners up as 7 and 8. This meant that the best runners-up were automatically ranked 7 and 8 even if they had a better playing record than some of the teams ranked 1–6. This is no longer the case.[10]

The draw for the knockout stage was carried out on 27 January 2014.[11] The top four seeds (Leinster A, Leeds Carnegie, Cornish Pirates and Bristol) had home advantage in the quarter-finals.[12] On 14 April, it was announced that the final would be played at the home of the winner of the Pontypridd / Leinster A semi-final.[13] This game ended as a 22 all draw after extra time; Leinster won on tries scored (3 - 1).[14] Leinster A beat Leeds Carnegie 44 – 17 in the final and retained the cup they won in the previous season - the first team to win the cup for a second time.[15][16]

| Quarter-finals| | Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|  5 April 2014 – Mennaye Field | | | | |

|  Cornish Pirates |  14

|  26 April 2014 – Sardis Road[n 1]

|  Pontypridd |  16 |

|  Pontypridd |  22

|  4 April 2014 – Donnybrook

| |  Leinster A |  22 |

|  Leinster A |  47

| |  23 May 2014 – Donnybrook

|  Munster A |  15 |

|  Leinster A |  44

|  4 April 2014 – Memorial Stadium

| |  Leeds Carnegie |  17

|  Bristol |  39

|  4 May 2014 – Memorial Stadium |

|  Rotherham Titans |  24 |

|  Bristol |  25

|  4 April 2014 – Headingley

| |  Leeds Carnegie |  30 |

|  Leeds Carnegie |  41

|  Plymouth Albion |  21 |

1. ^ Leinster won on number of tries scored.[14]

### 2014–15 Competition

[edit]

Main article: 2014–15 British and Irish Cup

The number of teams playing in the sixth competition is reduced from twenty-four to twenty with the withdrawal of the Scottish teams:

* 12 teams from the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby
* 4 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
* 4 clubs from the Principality Premiership, the second tier of Welsh rugby.

The twelve Principality Premiership Teams participating in regional play-offs which saw Aberavon, Carmarthen Quins, Cross Keys and Pontypridd qualify for the competition proper. The Scottish clubs withdrew because of an increase in the number of the pool matches before Christmas, from four to six. Scottish Rugby felt that Scottish teams would not be able to compete fully in both the British and Irish cup and the BT Premiership; the premier competition for clubs in Scotland.[2]

| Quarter-finals| | Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|  24 January 2015 – Castle Park | | | | |

|  Doncaster Knights |  38

|  14 March 2015 – Castle Park

|  Munster A |  17 |

|  Doncaster Knights |  27

|  23 January 2015 – Ashton Gate

| |  Bristol |  22 |

|  Bristol |  41

| |  3 April 2015 – Castle Park

|  Yorkshire Carnegie |  28 |

|  Doncaster Knights |  5

|  24 January 2015 – Sixways Stadium

| |  Worcester Warriors |  35

|  Worcester Warriors |  24

|  13 March 2015 – Sixways Stadium |

|  Pontypridd |  10 |

|  Worcester Warriors |  15

|  24 January 2015 – Clifton Lane

| |  Leinster A |  13 |

|  Rotherham Titans |  32

|  Leinster A |  51 |

### 2015–16 Competition

[edit]

Main article: 2015–16 British and Irish Cup

Remaining with 20 teams.

* – twelve clubs from RFU Championship
* – four Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
* – four Welsh regions represented by Premiership Select teams.

Five pools of 4 teams, with the pool winners and the top three runners up going through to the knockout competition.

| Quarter-finals| | Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|  11 March – Goldington Road | | | | |

|  Bedford Blues |  15

|  19 March – Old Deer Park

|  Jersey |  19 |

|  London Welsh |  36

|  12 March – Donnybrook

| |  Cornish Pirates |  15 |

|  Leinster A |  39

| |  10 April – Headingley

|  London Welsh |  45 |

|  Yorkshire Carnegie |  10

|  13 March – Mennaye Field

| |  London Welsh |  33

|  Cornish Pirates |  38

|  20 March – Headingley |

|  Doncaster Knights |  19 |

|  Yorkshire Carnegie |  33

|  13 March – Headingley

| |  Jersey |  32 |

|  Yorkshire Carnegie |  50

|  Moseley |  3 |

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Jersey Reds are listed in the English section because they play in the English RFU Championship.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "British & Irish Cup to be scrapped". BBC Sport. 15 November 2017.
2. ^ a b "Scots pull out of B&I Cup". The RUGBYPaper. Greenways Publishing. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
3. ^ "British & Irish Cup: Revamped Welsh teams' rivals revealed". BBC Sport. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
4. ^ "New British & Irish Cup announced". RTÉ Sport. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
5. ^ "Home unions devise British & Irish Cup". The Daily Telegraph. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
6. ^ "Welsh clubs discover British and Irish Cup opponents". WalesOnline. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
7. ^ "British Irish Cup - Cornish Pirates". Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
8. ^ "B&I Cup set to arrive in Connacht". 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
9. ^ "British & Irish Cup undergoes restructure ahead of new season". RFU. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
10. ^ "Seeding Criteria For The Quarter-finals Draw 2014". Cornish Pirates. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
11. ^ "Pirates Get Ponty At Home". Cornish Pirates. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
12. ^ "Pirates Sure Of Home Quarter-final Tie In Cup". Cornish Pirates. 18 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
13. ^ "Winners of Pontypridd v Leinster A to host BIC Final". Pontypridd RFC. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
14. ^ a b "Pontypridd 22 - 22 Leinster". BBC. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
15. ^ "Leinster 'A' 44 v 17 Leeds Carnegie". Leinster Rugby. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
16. ^ Daly, Phil (23 May 2014). "Leinster A 44 Leeds Carnegie 17". Leeds Carnegie. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Unofficial British and Irish Cup website - latest news, teams etc
* Results from the BBC Archived 31 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine
* rugbyweek.com - BritishandIrishCup

* v
* t
* e

British and Irish Cup

2017–18 Teams|

| English|

* Bedford Blues
* Bristol Bears
* Cornish Pirates
* Doncaster Knights
* Ealing Trailfinders
* Hartpury College
* Jersey Reds
* London Scottish
* Nottingham
* Rotherham Titans
* Richmond
* Yorkshire Carnegie

|

Irish|

* Connacht Eagles
* Leinster A
* Munster A
* Ulster A

Welsh|

* Cardiff Blues PS
* Dragons PS
* Ospreys PS
* Scarlets PS

Former clubs|

| English|

* Birmingham & Solihull 2009–10, 2010–11
* Coventry 2009–10
* Esher 2010–11, 2011–12
* Exeter Chiefs 2009–10
* Newcastle Falcons 2012–13
* Plymouth Albion 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
* Worcester Warriors 2010–11, 2014–15

|

Scottish|

* Ayr 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
* Currie 2010–11, 2011–12
* Dundee HSFP 2012–13
* Edinburgh Academicals 2013–14
* Gael Force 2009–10
* Gala 2012–13, 2013–14
* Heriot's FP 2009–10
* Melrose 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
* Stirling County 2012–13, 2013–14

Welsh|

* Aberavon 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
* Bedwas 2012–13
* Bridgend Ravens 2012–13
* Cardiff 2009–10, 2012–13
* Carmarthen Quins 2012–13, 2014–15
* Cross Keys 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
* Llandovery 2010–11, 2012–13
* Llanelli 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
* Neath 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
* Newport 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13
* Pontypridd 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
* Swansea 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13

Seasons|

* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18

Winners|

* 2010: Cornish Pirates
* 2011: Bristol
* 2012: Munster A
* 2013: Leinster A
* 2014: Leinster A
* 2015: Worcester Warriors
* 2016: London Welsh
* 2017: Munster A
* 2018: Ealing Trailfinders

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in England

Governing body|

* Rugby Football Union
* Rugby Football Union for Women (merged into the RFU)

National teams|

| Men's|

* England
* England A
* 7's
* U-21
* U-20
* U-18
* British & Irish Lions
* England Counties XV

|

Women's|

* Women's
* 7's

International competitions|

| Men's|

* World Cup
* Six Nations
* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Sevens World Series
* Sevens Grand Prix Series
* Commonwealth Games

|

Women's|

* World Cup
* Six Nations
* World Series Sevens

Competition divisions|

| Men's|

* Premiership
* Championship
* National Leagues
* London and SE Division
* Northern Division
* Midland Division
* South West Division
* United Hospitals Cup

|

Women's|

* Premiership Women's Rugby

European competitions|

* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup

National competitions|

* Premiership Rugby
* Premiership Cup
* RFU Championship
* Championship Cup
* National League 1
* National League 2 East
* National League 2 North
* National League 2 West
* RFU Intermediate Cup
* RFU Senior Vase
* RFU Junior Vase
* Premiership Rugby Sevens Series
* Women's Premiership
* Premier 15s

London and South East
competitions|

* Regional 1 South East
* Regional 1 South Central
* Regional 2 Anglia
* Regional 2 South Central
* Regional 2 South East
* Regional 2 Thames
* London 1 North
* London 2 North East
* London 2 North West
* London 2 South East
* London 2 South West
* London 3 North West
* London 3 South East
* London 3 South West
* Counties 2 Eastern Counties
* London 3 Essex
* Eastern Counties 1
* Eastern Counties 2
* Eastern Counties 3
* Counties 2 Essex
* Counties 2 Hampshire
* Counties 3 Hampshire
* Counties 4 Hampshire
* Hampshire Cups
* Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex
* Herts/Middlesex 2
* Hertfordshire Cups
* Middlesex Cups
* Counties 3 Kent
* Counties 4 Kent
* Counties 5 Kent
* Kent Cups
* Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
* Counties 2 Surrey
* Counties 3 Surrey
* Counties 4 Surrey
* Counties 5 Surrey
* Surrey Cups
* Counties 2 Sussex
* Sussex 1
* Sussex Cups

Midland competitions|

* Regional 1 Midlands
* Regional 2 North Midlands
* Regional 2 West Midlands
* Regional 2 East Midlands
* Counties 1 Midlands West (North)
* Counties 1 Midlands West (South)
* Midlands 2 East (North)
* Midlands 2 East (South)
* Midlands 3 West (North)
* Midlands 3 West (South)
* Midlands 3 East (North)
* Midlands 3 East (South)
* Midlands 4 West (North)
* Midlands 4 West (South)
* Midlands 4 East (North)
* Midlands 4 East (South)
* Midlands 5 West (South)
* Leicestershire Cups
* North Midlands Cups
* Staffordshire Cups
* Warwickshire Cups

Northern competitions|

* Regional 1 North East
* Regional 1 North West
* Regional 2 North
* Regional 2 North East
* Regional 2 North West
* North 1 East
* North 1 West
* North 2 West
* Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
* Lancs/Cheshire 1
* Lancs/Cheshire 2
* Cheshire Cups
* Lancashire Cups
* Counties 1 Cumbria
* Cumbria Cups
* Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
* Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland
* Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland
* Durham Cups
* Northumberland Cups
* Counties 1 Yorkshire
* Counties 2 Yorkshire
* Counties 3 Yorkshire
* Counties 4 Yorkshire
* Yorkshire Cups

South West competitions|

* Regional 1 South West
* Regional 2 Severn
* Regional 2 South West
* Counties 1 Southern North
* Counties 1 Southern South
* Counties 1 Western North
* Counties 1 Western West
* Counties 2 Cornwall
* Counties 3 Cornwall
* Cornwall Cups
* Counties 2 Devon
* Counties 3 Devon East
* Counties 3 Devon West
* Devon Cups
* Counties 2 Gloucestershire
* Counties 3 Gloucestershire
* Gloucester 2 North
* Gloucester 2 South
* Gloucestershire Cups
* Counties 2 Somerset
* Counties 3 Somerset
* Counties 4 Somerset North
* Counties 4 Somerset South
* Somerset 3 North
* Somerset 3 South
* Somerset Cups
* Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
* Oxfordshire Cups
* Dorset & Wilts 1 North
* Dorset & Wilts 1 South
* Dorset & Wilts 2 North
* Dorset & Wilts 2 South
* Dorset & Wilts 3 North

County competitions|

* Division 1
* Division 2
* Division 3

Discontinued competitions|

* Anglo-Welsh Cup
* Cornwall/Devon League
* Divisional Championship
* National League 2 South
* North Premier
* RFU Knockout Cup
* South West 1 East

Related articles|

* International players
* Clubs
* Churchill Cup
* Calcutta Cup
* Millennium Trophy
* Ella-Mobbs Trophy
* Hillary Shield

Other|

* English rugby union system
* Timeline of rugby union on UK television

* v
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Rugby union in Ireland

Irish Rugby Football Union

National teams|

| Men's|

* Senior
* Sevens
* Ireland Wolfhounds
* Emerging Ireland
* Universities
* U20s
* Schoolboys

|

Women's|

* Senior
* Sevens

URC teams|

* Connacht
* Leinster
* Munster
* Ulster

Competitions|

| European|

* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup
* United Rugby Championship
* British and Irish Cup
* Celtic Cup

|

National|

* IRFU Interprovincial Championship
* IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series
* All-Ireland League
* All-Ireland Cup

Provincial leagues|

* Connacht Senior League
* Leinster Senior League
* Munster Senior League
* Ulster Senior League

Provincial senior cups|

* Connacht Senior Cup
* Leinster Senior Cup
* Munster Senior Cup
* Ulster Senior Cup

Provincial junior cups|

* Leinster Towns Cup
* Munster Junior Cup
* Ulster Junior Cup

Intervarsity|

* The Colours Match

Schools senior cups|

* Connacht Schools Rugby Senior Cup
* Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup
* Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup
* Ulster Schools' Cup

Schools junior cups|

* Connacht Schools Junior Cup
* Leinster Schools Junior Cup
* Munster Schools Junior Cup
* Ulster Medallion Shield

Related articles|

* List of Ireland national rugby union players
* Comparison of Gaelic football and rugby union
* London Irish
* Dublin Hospitals Rugby Cup

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in Scotland

Governing body|

* Scottish Rugby Union

National teams|

| Men's|

* Men's
* A
* B
* Scotland Club XV
* Emerging Scotland
* U-21
* U-20
* U-19
* U-18
* U-17
* U-16
* 7s

|

Women's|

* Women's
* 7s

Competitions|

| International|

* World Cup
* Six Nations
* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Sevens World Series
* Commonwealth Games
* Sevens Grand Prix Series

|

Professional Club|

* Super 6
* United Rugby Championship
* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup
* 1872 Cup

Amateur Club|

* Scottish League Championship
* Premiership
* National League: Division 1, Division 2, Division 3
* Regional Leagues \- Caledonia, East, West
* Border League
* Inter-District Championship
* Scottish Cup
* Scottish Womens Premiership

Junior rugby|

* Age-grade Championships: U20, Borders Competitions, Scottish Rugby Schools' Cup

Defunct|

* Grampian Alliance League
* Highland Alliance League
* Championship League A and B
* Scottish Unofficial Championship
* Scottish Women's Rugby Union

Teams|

| Professional|

* Edinburgh
* Glasgow Warriors

|

Defunct|

* Border Reivers
* Caledonia Reds

See also|

* History
* League System
* Scotland international players
* Scotland 'B' international players
* Murrayfield Stadium
* Scotland Sevens
* Borders Sevens Circuit
* Melrose Sevens
* Melrose Cup
* London Scottish F.C.
* Calcutta Cup
* Centenary Quaich
* Auld Alliance Trophy
* Doddie Weir Cup
* Cuttitta Cup
* Hopetoun Cup
* Douglas Horn Trophy
* Scottish Rugby Academy
* Scottish District rugby structure
* John Macphail Scholarship

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in Wales

Governing body|

* Welsh Rugby Union (WRU)

National teams|

| Men's|

* Wales
* A
* 7s
* U-20
* U-18
* British & Irish Lions

|

Women's|

* Wales
* 7s

Regional teams|

* Cardiff
* Dragons
* Ospreys
* Scarlets
* Celtic Warriors

Regional and club competitions|

* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup
* United Rugby Championship
* Anglo-Welsh Cup
* Celtic Cup
* Welsh Premier Division
* Super Rygbi Cymru
* British and Irish Cup
* WRU Challenge Cup
* WRU National Leagues
* Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy
* Mid District Cup
* Premiership Rugby Sevens Series

Previous competitions|

* Celtic Cup (2003)
* Cardiff Sevens
* Snelling Sevens (Welsh seven-a-side tournament)

Related articles|

* Welsh rugby union system
* Cardiff Arms Park
* National Stadium, Cardiff
* Millennium Stadium
* Match of the Century (1905)
* History
* London Welsh RFC
* London Welsh Amateur
* Judgement Day
* WRU reform

* v
* t
* e

Top-level rugby union club competitions

Tier 1 nations|

| European cups|

* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup
* Rugby Europe Super Cup

|

International|

* Super Rugby Americas
* Super Rugby Pacific
* United Rugby Championship

Domestic|

* Argentina
* Nacional de Clubes
* Torneo de la URBA
* Torneo del Interior
* Australia
* Australian Club Championship
* Provincial Club Competitions
* England
* Premiership
* Championship
* Premiership Rugby Cup
* RFU Championship Cup
* France
* Top 14
* Pro D2
* Championnat Fédéral Nationale
* Ireland
* All-Ireland League
* All-Ireland Cup
* Italy
* Serie A Elite
* Serie A Elite Cup
* Japan
* Japan Rugby League One
* Top Challenge League
* Top League Champions Cup
* All-Japan Rugby Football Championship
* New Zealand
* National Provincial Championship
* Heartland Championship
* Scotland
* Super 6
* Scottish Premiership
* 1872 Cup
* South Africa
* Currie Cup
* SA Cup
* Gold Cup
* Varsity Cup
* Wales
* Welsh Premier Division
* WRU Challenge Cup

Defunct|

* Anglo-Welsh Cup
* Australian Provincial Championship
* British and Irish Cup
* Campeonato Argentino
* Celtic Cup
* Challenge Yves du Manoir
* Continental Club Rugby League
* Coppa Italia
* European Rugby Continental Shield
* Global Rapid Rugby
* Irish Interprovincial Championship
* Japan Company Rugby Football Championship
* National Rugby Championship
* Pro14 Rainbow Cup
* RFU Knockout Cup
* Rugby Challenge
* Scottish Inter-District Championship
* South Pacific Championship
* Welsh–Scottish League

Other nations|

| Africa|

* Kenya

|

Americas|

* United States
* Brazil
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Asia|

* Hong Kong
* India
* Malaysia
* South Korea
* Sri Lanka

Europe|

* Austria
* Belgium
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Finland
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Serbia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Ukraine
* Central East Europe
* Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia

Oceania|

* Fiji
* Samoa
* Tonga

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