Medallion Shield

Foundation and growth

It was reported in 1909 that discussions had taken place between Belfast Royal Academy, Campbell College, Methodist College and Royal Belfast Academical Institution about setting up a rugby junior competition for pupils with an age qualification given as under fifteen years of age on 1 November. The success of the Leinster Schools Junior Cup which had started that year had prompted these discussions. Henry McIntosh, the Headmaster of Methodist College and respected rugby coach, was the main driving force behind the idea.

In 1910 Methodist College and Royal Belfast Academical Institution proceeded with the competition and for the first five years only these two schools competed. The third school to join was Royal School Dungannon in 1915. Bangor Grammar School entered for the first time in 1916, with Ballymena Academy and Coleraine Academical Institution following in 1917.

In 1977 the organising committee of Belfast Royal Academy, Methodist College Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Royal School Dungannon ceded control of the competition to the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Trophy

Initially without a trophy, a medal was presented to the winning captain at the conclusion of the second final in 1911. The original Medallion Shield was presented by the Governors of Methodist College with the medal mounted on the shield. When the original shield was filled with the names of winners, the Governors also provided a replacement shield. The original shield is on exhibit and can be viewed at the Methodist College Heritage Centre.

Venue of finals

All finals since 1973 had been played at Ravenhill. In 2014 the final was staged at the Queen's University Arena because of the ongoing development work at Ravenhill. Prior to 1973, the most commonly used venues were the North of Ireland grounds on the Ormeau Road in Belfast and the former Royal Belfast Academical Institution grounds at Orangefield, Belfast.

Future international players

Over the years a selection of players who went on to win international caps appeared in the Medallion Shield final. One future international appeared in the first ever final in 1910 with James B O'Neill a member of the victorious Methodist College team. He would win one cap for Ireland in 1920.

Further examples of future international players include:

Format

Until 2004 the Medallion Shield was competed for through an open draw, and since then a seeding system has been employed to determine the point at which a school enters the competition.

A Medallion Plate competition for first round losers was introduced in 1986.

The competition took on a new format in 2005 with further minor changes made since. Each team is assigned to a seeding group which determines the stage at which that team joins the competition. Each stage is run on a single tie knock-out basis, with replays for drawn games when necessary.

The structure since the 2009-10 season is as follows:

In 2014-15 the top eight seeded teams were Ballymena Academy, Ballyclare High School, Campbell College, Dalriada School, Methodist College Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Sullivan Upper School and Wallace High School.

2014-15 season

The 2015 Medallion Shield final was won by Royal Belfast Academical Institution beating Wallace High School. Ballymena Academy defeated Down High School in the Plate final. Coleraine Academical Institution won against Grosvenor Grammar School in the Bowl final. Omagh Academy beat Strabane Academy in the Trophy final.

Performance by School

(Table incomplete - 2 Finalists missing - 1934, 1937)

^† denotes a shared win
^‡ Annadale Grammar School became Wellington College in a merger in 1990.

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

Medallion Bowl

2010s

Medallion Trophy

2010s