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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. The competition is currently sponsored by SEAT.
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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 and Presentation Brothers College both have 29 titles each. Rockwell College (26) were once the team to beat in the competition, holding the record of most wins until the 1970s. However, Rockwell have only managed to win 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 (4) won Limerick's first trophies in the 20's and 30's, followed by Crescent College¹ (11) which contributed three in the 40's and 50's whilst St. Munchin's (5) added their first in 1968. Mungret College, merged into Crescent College¹ in 1974, took the trophy once in 1941. In addition Ardscoil Rís, Glenstal and St. Enda's have all competed in finals. Castletroy College was the most recent new winner, in 2008, 8 years after the schools' founding.
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) and 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.