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 whilst old rivalries are re-awakened, and nostalgic memories abound ensuring that nobody who has been through the system remains untouched.
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 were once the team to beat in the competition, holding the record of most wins until the 1970s. However, Rockwell have only won the cup six times since.
Limerick's dominant club scene, smaller population and larger number of competing schools has led to more modest achievements. Limerick CBS won Limerick's first trophies in the 1920s and 30s, followed by Crescent College which contributed three in the 1940s and 50s whilst St. Munchin's 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 the Senior cup have gone on to represent Munster and Ireland. Former winners of the Cup include:, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Simon Zebo, David Wallace, Donnacha Ryan, Conor Murray, Keith Earls, Jerry Flannery and Paul O'Connell also played Senior Cup rugby for their respective schools.
The competition is currently sponsored by the Clayton Hotels Group.

Winners

Honours

1900s