Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup
The Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup is the premier rugby union competition for secondary schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU. First held in 1887, the Cup celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2007.
Schools Senior Cup Rugby is divided into 4 tiers in two sections and each cup competition bears a name as follows: Section A Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Development Cup, Section A Leinster Schools Rugby McMullen Cup, Section B Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Cup, Section B Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup.
Attendances are high for a schoolboy competition, with up to 25,000 present at the final. This match traditionally takes place on Saint Patrick's Day at Lansdowne Road. In 2008, the final was played at the Royal Dublin Society Grounds after Donnybrook proved to be too small for the 2007 final, and has been the home since. Since the move to the RDS and live television coverage, the attendance has decreased and is now typically 10,000–14,000.
The competition has been subject to criticism from various quarters as being "elitist" and for putting undue pressure on its participants. It is also the subject of satire through the Ross O'Carroll Kelly newspaper column and novels. The competition and schools rugby in the four provinces has also been praised with "Irish game in debt to schools rugby".
Blackrock College are the most successful school in the Cup's history, having won 69 times, an accumulative total larger than all other teams combined.
History
Three schools have won the Cup at their first attempt; Blackrock College in the competition's maiden year in 1887, Castleknock College who won the first of their eight Leinster titles at the first time of asking when they defeated Blackrock in the 1913 final and Clongowes Wood College who first won the cup in 1926. St. Fintan's High School are the most recent 'new' school to the competition, making their debut in 2016/17 season.To date, only six schools have achieved the Senior and Junior Cup "double". These are Blackrock, who have achieved this feat 27 times, St Michaels twice, Newbridge, Belvedere, Terenure and Castleknock College.
Even more rare is to lose both the Senior and Junior Cup Finals in the same year. This depressing feat has been achieved by seven schools on 12 occasions. Terenure College leads with 4, followed by Belvedere College with 3, next St Michaels College, St Mary's College, Newbridge College, Cistercian College Roscrea and Blackrock College with 1 each. This happened to Blackrock College for the first time in 2017.
Blackrock College have only been defeated in successive finals on two occasions. In the 1920s they were runners up three times in a row, defeated by St Andrews in 1921 & 1922 followed by Belvedere in 1923. The second occasion was in 1979 & 1980 when they were defeated in successive finals by Terenure College.
The 91st Leinster Senior Schools Cup Final in 1977 between Blackrock College and St Mary's College finished level at 12 points each at the end of normal time. Having played 70 minutes the two sides now faced an additional 15 minutes extra time. Six minutes into extra time Blackrock got a try from fullback Patrick Hinkson. Hugo MacNeill kicked the sideline conversion. Two further MacNeill penalties in the second half of extra time sealed victory for Blackrock. Among the future Irish senior internationals playing that day were Hugo MacNeill and Paul Dean. The 1977 Leinster Senior Schools Cup Final was played on Sunday 20 March 1977 and not the normal St Patrick's Day. This decision was made to protect the Lansdowne Road pitch following poor weather prior to the Ireland v France Five Nations fixture on 19 March. Grainy video footage is available on archives on www.rte.ie. The edition of Sports Club was broadcast 31 March 1977. The commentator is Fred Cogley.
In September 1967, the then Minister for Education Donogh O'Malley introduced free secondary school education. Only very few Rugby Playing secondary schools opted to join the "Free Education" scheme. To date, only one of these non-fee paying schools has managed to win the Senior Cup. In 1983 and 1985, De La Salle Churchtown beat Castleknock College and Blackrock College.
Four captains have gained the distinction of lifting the cup twice, Larry McMahon, Garret Gill, Jonny Mion in 1989 and 1990, Barry Gibney in 1995 and 1996.
The Cup, and the Schools who play for it, have a history of producing fine rugby players, many of whom go on to play for Ireland. Players such as Denis Hickie, who captained his St. Mary's College team to win the cup in 1994, and Gordon D'Arcy have impressive senior cup records. The most international players produced have come from Blackrock College, with players such as Hugo MacNeill, Brendan Mullin, Brian O'Driscoll, Victor Costello, Shane Byrne, Bob Casey, Leo Cullen and more recently Luke Fitzgerald, Ian Madigan, Jordi Murphy, Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery. Terenure College has also produced many Irish international players including Mick Hipwell, Kevin Flynn, Paul Haycock, Niall Hogan, Conor O'Shea, Ciaran Clarke, and Girvan Dempsey. De La Salle Churchtown produced the following Internationals - Des Fitzgerald played in 2 RWCs. Named to Lions Team to mark centenary of IRB
Tom Clancy, Brian Glennon, Niyi Adeolokun, Lar Hudson and Austin Quirke.
The 2020 season has not been completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Roll of honour
¹ Corrig School moved premises to Monkstown Park in 1950 and was renamed C.B.C. Monkstown.² Mountjoy School was amalgamated with other schools in 1972 to become Mount Temple Comprehensive School.
Results
Finals
Drawn finals are replayed. In this table, the result of the replay is given below the result of the drawn game.| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
| 1887 | Blackrock College | 3-0 | Farra School, Westmeath |
| 1888 | Blackrock College | 8-0 | Rathmines School |
| 1889 | Corrig School | 4-0 | Galway Grammar School |
| 1890 | Blackrock College | 22-0 | Corrig School |
| 1891 | Rathmines School | 1-0 | Wesley College |
| 1892 | Corrig School | 0-0 6-2 | Rathmines School |
| 1893 | Blackrock College | 18-0 | Rathmines School |
| 1894 | Blackrock College | 5-0 | Corrig School |
| 1895 | Blackrock College | 15-3 | Wesley College |
| 1896 | Blackrock College | 8-3 | Wesley College |
| 1897 | Blackrock College | 25-0 | The High School |
| 1898 | Wesley College | 15-0 | Rathmines School |
| 1899 | St. Columba's College | 8-5 | Blackrock College |
| 1900 | Blackrock College | 63-0 | Corrig School |
| 1901 | Blackrock College | 13-0 | Corrig School |
| 1902 | Blackrock College | 3-3 18-0 | St. Andrew's College |
| 1903 | Blackrock College | 8-5 | St. Andrew's College |
| 1904 | Blackrock College | 8-0 | Mountjoy School |
| 1905 | Blackrock College | 0-0 6-0 | Mountjoy School |
| 1906 | St. Andrew's College | 5-0 | Blackrock College |
| 1907 | Blackrock College | 28-3 | The King's Hospital |
| 1908 | Blackrock College | 9-3 | St. Andrew's College |
| 1909 | Blackrock College | 25-0 | The High School |
| 1910 | Blackrock College | 0-0 6-3 | M.S.J. Roscrea |
| 1911 | St. Andrew's College | 9-3 | Mountjoy School |
| 1912 | Blackrock College | 11-0 | St. Columba's College |
| 1913 | Castleknock College | 8-5 | Blackrock College |
| 1914 | Mountjoy School | 3-0 | Wesley College |
| 1915 | Blackrock College | 12-0 | The High School |
| 1916 | Blackrock College | 14-3 | Castleknock College |
| 1917 | Blackrock College | 21-0 | Belvedere College |
| 1918 | Blackrock College | 12-0 | Mountjoy School |
| 1919 | Blackrock College | 25-0 | The High School |
| 1920 | Castleknock College | 9-0 | Mountjoy School |
| 1921 | St. Andrew's College | 6-0 | Blackrock College |
| 1922 | St. Andrew's College | 3-0 | Blackrock College |
| 1923 | Belvedere College | 2-0 | Blackrock College |
| 1924 | Belvedere College | 8-3 | Castleknock College |
| 1925 | Blackrock College | 2-0 | Castleknock College |
| 1926 | Clongowes Wood College | 9-5 | Belvedere College |
| 1927 | Blackrock College | 12-5 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1928 | Blackrock College | 6-0 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1929 | Blackrock College | 8-0 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1930 | Blackrock College | 11-7 | Belvedere College |
| 1931 | Castleknock College | 6-0 | Belvedere College |
| 1932 | Presentation Bray | 6-4 | Newbridge College |
| 1933 | Blackrock College | 10-0 | Belvedere College |
| 1934 | Blackrock College | 33-0 | Wesley College |
| 1935 | Blackrock College | 18-3 | Wesley College |
| 1936 | Blackrock College | 14-0 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1937 | Castleknock College | 8-0 | Mountjoy School |
| 1938 | Belvedere College | 3-0 | Castleknock College |
| 1939 | Blackrock College | 8-3 | Newbridge College |
| 1940 | Blackrock College | 3-0 | Castleknock College |
| 1941 | Newbridge College | 0-0 9-3 | M.S.J. Roscrea |
| 1942 | Blackrock College | 9-6 | Castleknock College |
| 1943 | Blackrock College | 9-6 | St. Mary's College |
| 1944 | Castleknock College | 18-3 | Belvedere College |
| 1945 | Blackrock College | 28-3 | Newbridge College |
| 1946 | Belvedere College | 8-0 | St. Mary's College |
| 1947 | Castleknock College | 6-0 | Blackrock College |
| 1948 | Blackrock College | 9-0 | Castleknock College |
| 1949 | Blackrock College | 6-3 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1950 | Blackrock College | 18-0 | Castleknock College |
| 1951 | Belvedere College | 12-0 | The King's Hospital |
| 1952 | Terenure College | 9-3 | Castleknock College |
| 1953 | Blackrock College | 11-0 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1954 | Blackrock College | 11-3 | Belvedere College |
| 1955 | Blackrock College | 11-8 | Castleknock College |
| 1956 | Blackrock College | 11-0 | Terenure College |
| 1957 | Blackrock College | 5-3 | Terenure College |
| 1958 | Terenure College | 3-0 | Belvedere College |
| 1959 | Castleknock College | 11-9 | Newbridge College |
| 1960 | Blackrock College | 13-6 | Terenure College |
| 1961 | St. Mary's College | 11-0 | Castleknock College |
| 1962 | Blackrock College | 9-3 | Belvedere College |
| 1963 | Blackrock College | 6-0 | The High School |
| 1964 | Blackrock College | 3-0 | Terenure College |
| 1965 | Castleknock College | 12-8 | Blackrock College |
| 1966 | St. Mary's College | 14-6 | Newbridge College |
| 1967 | Blackrock College | 11-3 | St. Mary's College |
| 1968 | Belvedere College | 14-11 | De La Salle Churchtown |
| 1969 | St. Mary's College | 10-9 | Terenure College |
| 1970 | Newbridge College | 19-5 | Blackrock College |
| 1971 | Belvedere College | 14-11 | Presentation Bray |
| 1972 | Belvedere College | 20-10 | Terenure College |
| 1973 | The High School | 19-7 | Belvedere College |
| 1974 | Blackrock College | 10-6 | St. Mary's College |
| 1975 | Blackrock College | 11-7 | De La Salle Churchtown |
| 1976 | C.B.C. Monkstown | 3-0 | Castleknock College |
| 1977 | Blackrock College | 12-12 FT 24-12 ET | St. Mary's College |
| 1978 | Clongowes Wood College | 9-6 | Terenure College |
| 1979 | Terenure College | 15-9 | Blackrock College |
| 1980 | Terenure College | 12-10 | Blackrock College |
| 1981 | Blackrock College | 9-3 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1982 | Blackrock College | 22-3 | The King's Hospital |
| 1983 | De La Salle Churchtown | 13-6 | Castleknock College |
| 1984 | Terenure College | 15-3 | C.B.C. Monkstown |
| 1985 | De La Salle Churchtown | 10-6 | Blackrock College |
| 1986 | Blackrock College | 10-3 | De La Salle Churchtown |
| 1987 | Blackrock College | 15-9 | Terenure College |
| 1988 | Clongowes Wood College | 6-3 | St Michael's College |
| 1989 | Blackrock College | 28-16 | Belvedere College |
| 1990 | Blackrock College | 14-6 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1991 | Clongowes Wood College | 7-3 | St Michael's College |
| 1992 | Terenure College | 19-6 | Belvedere College |
| 1993 | Terenure College | 8-3 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1994 | St. Mary's College | 14-14 7-3 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1995 | Blackrock College | 8-3 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1996 | Blackrock College | 37-3 | Newbridge College |
| 1997 | Terenure College | 22-15 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 1998 | Clongowes Wood College | 37-18 | Terenure College |
| 1999 | Blackrock College | 17-9 | Cistercian, Roscrea |
| 2000 | Clongowes Wood College | 13-11 | Terenure College |
| 2001 | Terenure College | 21-19 | Blackrock College |
| 2002 | St. Mary's College | 10-6 | Belvedere College |
| 2003 | Terenure College | 6-6 3-0 | St. Mary's College |
| 2004 | Blackrock College | 24-9 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 2005 | Belvedere College | 16-10 | Blackrock College |
| 2006 | Blackrock College | 14-12 | St Michael's College |
| 2007 | St Michael's College | 6-0 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 2008 | Belvedere College | 11-10 | St. Mary's College |
| 2009 | Blackrock College | 18-9 | Terenure College |
| 2010 | Clongowes Wood College | 38-20 | St Michael's College |
| 2011 | Clongowes Wood College | 46-15 | Cistercian College, Roscrea |
| 2012 | St Michael's College | 17-10 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 2013 | Blackrock College | 23-20 | St Michael's College |
| 2014 | Blackrock College | 22-17 | Clongowes Wood College |
| 2015 | Cistercian College, Roscrea | 18-11 | Belvedere College |
| 2016 | Belvedere College | 31-7 | Cistercian College, Roscrea |
| 2017 | Belvedere College | 10-3 | Blackrock College |
| 2018 | Blackrock College | 35-12 | Belvedere College |
| 2019 | St Michael's College | 28-5 | Gonzaga College |
| 2020 | Clongowes Wood College & Newbridge College | TBD in August 2020 | Postponed due to outbreak of the Coronavirus |
Point values
The point values of scores in rugby union have changed many times in its history. This table summarises them.| Period | Try | Conversion | Penalty | Drop goal | Goal from mark |
| To 1891 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 1891—93 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 1893—1905 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 1905—48 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 1948—71 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1971—77 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1977—92 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | – |
| 1992—present | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | – |
Records
- Most consecutive wins: 6, Blackrock College 1900–05
- Greatest winning margin in final: 63 points, 1900: Blackrock College 63-0 Corrig School
- Narrowest winning margin in final: 1 point, 1891: Blackrock College 1–0 Wesley College; 1969: St. Mary's College 10–9 Terenure College; 2008: Belvedere College 11–10 St. Mary's College
- Highest aggregate score in final: 63 points, 1900: Blackrock College 63-0 Corrig School
- Longest period without a win by Blackrock College: 6 seasons 1967–73
- Greatest losing margin: unknown
Sponsorship and media coverage
The competition receives extensive coverage in Ireland's broadsheets, in particular the Irish Independent and The Irish Times. Both publish previews of each year's competition and provide match reports for each game played.
In years gone by the competition's final on St Patrick's Day would sometimes be broadcast on TG4, however, this was discontinued in the early 2000s. From 2005 onwards, however, Setanta Sports began extensive coverage of school's rugby. This included the finals of all provincial finals and coverage of the Leinster Schools Junior Cup. The Leinster Senior Cup was most prominent, however, with coverage from every game played at Donnybrook and every round of the competition.
FreeSports replaced Eir Sport as the competition broadcaster ahead of the 2019 competition where they will broadcast eight games live.
Leinster School of the Year Award
In 2008, Leinster Rugby instituted a new award for overall performance of a school at every level of schools rugby. The award, Powerade Leinster Rugby School of the Year is given at the annual Leinster awards ceremony.The inaugural winners were C.B.C. Monkstown. They were followed in by Terenure College, St Gerard's School, Clongowes Wood College, St. Michael's College, and Blackrock College,. Gonzaga College
In popular culture
- The Ross O'Carroll-Kelly character, created by Paul Howard, lives off the glory of winning a Leinster Senior Cup final medal with the fictional school "Castlerock College" in the novel The Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly.
- Gerard Siggins' series of novels, Rugby Spirit, Rugby Warrior, Rugby Rebel, Rugby Flyer and Rugby Runner tell the story of a boy, Eoin Madden, who plays rugby for the fictional Dublin school "Castlerock College". He takes part in several campaigns with the school, including the Leinster Junior Cup. The school's name is an homage to that in Paul Howard's books, as Siggins had coined the name "Ross O'Carroll Kelly".