The Ulster Schools' Challenge Cup is an annual competition involving schools affiliated to the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The Schools' Cup has the distinction of being the world's second-oldest rugby competition, having been competed for every year since 1876. The trophy itself is a three-handled silver cup with a plinth mounted on a large shield.
Methodist College Belfast have won the most titles with 37 wins – 35 outright wins and 2 shared.
The current holder is Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
The Schools' Cup was reformatted in 2003/04. Previously teams defeated in the first round would enter the Subsidiary Shield competition, teams losing in later rounds would find their season over. All entrants, except those who drew byes, entered in the first round of the competition. It was felt that this could lead to significant mismatches. The reformatting sought to avoid this and to extend the amount of meaningful rugby played by school teams.
The first round was changed to act as a qualifying stage for weaker teams and first round losers entered a new Schools' Trophy competition.
The bulk of the teams entered the competition in the second round where they were joined by the first-round qualifiers. Teams losing at this stage are entered into another new competition, the Schools' Bowl.
In the third round, four seeded teams entered the fray. Third-round losers entered the Subsidiary Shield, renamed the Schools' Shield. The Subsidiary Shield was first introduced in 1971. It did not have its own trophy until 1980 when the Headmaster of Grosvenor High School and then Ulster Branch President Ken Reid presented the Grosvenor Shield.
The remaining teams contest for the Schools' Cup proper, the semi-finals and final of which are played at Ravenhill, the Ulster Branch HQ and home of the Ulster side.
The competition format was changed again in 2005/06. The first round was a round-robin competition involving three teams. The winner from this joined eleven other teams in the second round. The six winners from the second round joined ten more teams in the third round; the second round losers competed for the Schools' Trophy.
The eight third-round winners proceeded to the fourth round where they were joined by eight seeded teams. The third-round losers competed for the Schools' Bowl. The fourth round proceeded as per the old third round.
The increased number of competitions means that schools which are very unlikely to win the main competition have more competitive rugby and an opportunity to win a trophy.
The first winners in 1876 were the Royal School, Armagh. When the Cup no longer had room to record the winners on it, the Cup was mounted on a wooden shield to which plaques were attached. In the centenary year of the competition after the 1976 final, the governors of Methodist College presented a new shield, as the original had no more room to record the winners. The Royal School won in 1977, thus claiming the place at the top of the new shield. The first wooden shield is on exhibit at the Ulster Branch offices at Ravenhill.
The first final to be played at Ravenhill was in 1924. Before that, finals were played at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society grounds at Balmoral, the Ulster Sports Club grounds at Cross Parade in Belfast, and one final was played at the Linfield Football Club ground at Windsor Park.
A total of seventeen schools have won the trophy at least once.
Although not widely known outside of Northern Ireland, the Schools' Cup is important within Ulster rugby. With no school 1st XV league, the Schools' Cup is the only competitive rugby played by the senior school teams.
The St. Patrick's Day final is televised live on BBC Northern Ireland, complete with half-time punditry and post-match interviews.
Information as provided by Schools' Cup Final programme (various years)
Note: Prior to 1942 drawn finals were always replayed. Then in 1942 it was decided if the final is drawn, a replay would only take place if both schools agreed. It has since become the rule that replays are never held and the trophy is automatically shared. Shares occurred in 1942, 1953, 1954, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964 & 1996.
1876 The Royal School, Armagh 3-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1877 The Royal School, Armagh 15-0 Methodist College1878 Methodist College 8-0 Royal School Dungannon1879 The Royal School, Armagh 6-0 Methodist College1880 The Royal School, Armagh 3-0 Methodist College1881 The Royal School, Armagh 6-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1882 Methodist College 3-0 Derry Academy1883 The Royal School, Armagh 8-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1884 Coleraine Academical Institution 3-0 Foyle College1885 The Royal School, Armagh 5-0 Methodist College1886 Coleraine Academical Institution 5-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution (After Extra Time)1887 Coleraine Academical Institution 11-0 Galway Grammar School1888 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1889 Methodist College 3-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1890 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 16-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1891 Methodist College 3-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1892 Methodist College 8-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1893 Methodist College 3-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1894 Coleraine Academical Institution 3-0 Methodist College1895 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 6-5 Coleraine Academical Institution1896 Methodist College 5-3 Derry Academy1897 Coleraine Academical Institution 6-0 Methodist College1898 Campbell College 7-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1899 Methodist College 21-0 Portora Royal School1900 Foyle College 6-0 Methodist College (after extra time in replay - Game 1: 3-3)1901 Methodist College 6-3 Coleraine Academical Institution (Played at Ulster Sports Ground, Cross Parade, Belfast)1902 Methodist College 38-0 Portora Royal School1903 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 28-0 The Royal School, Armagh1904 Methodist College 11-0 Portora Royal School1905 Portora Royal School 16-5 Methodist College1906 Portora Royal School 8-5 Foyle College1907 Royal School Dungannon 5-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1908 Portora Royal School 52-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1909 Portora Royal School 42-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1910 Campbell College 7-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1911 competition unfinished1912 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 11-3 Methodist College1913 Campbell College 10-3 Foyle College1914 Methodist College 13-0 Foyle College1915 Foyle College 5-3 The Royal School, Armagh1916 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3-0 Campbell College1917 Campbell College 9-3 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1918 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 24-5 Royal School Dungannon1919 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 8-0 Campbell College1920 Coleraine Academical Institution 3-0 Campbell College1921 Campbell College 8-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1922 Campbell College 10-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Played at Windsor Park)1923 Campbell College 23-0 Portora Royal School1924 Campbell College 16-3 Ballymena Academy (First Ravenhill Final)1925 Coleraine Academical Institution 13-3 Methodist College1926 Campbell College 11-3 Coleraine Academical Institution (Replay - after a 14-14 draw)1927 Methodist College 22-9 The Royal School, Armagh1928 Methodist College 24-3 Ballymena Academy1929 Methodist College 18-5 Portora Royal School1930 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 14-5 Methodist College1931 Campbell College 12-5 Methodist College1932 Campbell College 11-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1933 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 8-0 Methodist College1934 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 18-0 Lurgan College1935 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 14-0 Methodist College (Replay after 6-6 draw)1936 Methodist College 12-3 Coleraine Academical Institution1937 Methodist College 5-3 Belfast Royal Academy1938 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 7-6 Coleraine Academical Institution1939 Coleraine Academical Institution 16-5 Methodist College1940 Portora Royal School 6-3 Coleraine Academical Institution (after extra time)1941 Portora Royal School 11-3 Coleraine Academical Institution1942 Portora Royal School 5-5 Royal Belfast Academical Institution Shared1943 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 8-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1944 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 10-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1945 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5-0 Methodist College1946 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 8-3 Methodist College1947 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 7-3 Methodist College1948 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 11-3 Campbell College (Replay after 0-0 draw)1949 Methodist College 12-3 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1950 Campbell College 5-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1951 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 6-0 Campbell College1952 Methodist College 15-0 Campbell College1953 Methodist College 0-0 Campbell College shared1954 Campbell College 10-10 Royal Belfast Academical Institution shared1955 Campbell College 6-5 Methodist College1956 Campbell College 6-3 Methodist College1957 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5-3 Methodist College1958 Annadale Grammar School 5-0 Campbell College1959 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 8-0 Royal School Dungannon1960 Campbell College 0-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution shared1961 Campbell College 16-6 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1962 Belfast Royal Academy 6-6 Royal Belfast Academical Institution shared1963 Belfast Royal Academy 8-8 Rainey Endowed School shared1964 Belfast Royal Academy 0-0 Campbell College shared1965 Campbell College 14-0 Rainey Endowed School1966 Campbell College 3-0 Coleraine Academical Institution1967 Rainey Endowed School 9-6 Methodist College1968 Campbell College 13-0 Belfast Royal Academy1969 Bangor Grammar School 6-3 Campbell College1970 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 11-3 Rainey Endowed School1971 Belfast Boys' Model School 14-3 Ballymena Academy1972 Ballymena Academy 13-9 Belfast Royal Academy1973 Ballyclare High School 13-8 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1974 Methodist College 7-6 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1975 Methodist College 18-7 Royal School Dungannon1976 Methodist College 21-3 Campbell College1977 The Royal School, Armagh 12-9 Regent House, Newtownards1978 Bangor Grammar School 17-9 Annadale Grammar School1979 Methodist College 10-7 Bangor Grammar School1980 Campbell College 3-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1981 Ballymena Academy 12-3 Bangor Grammar School1982 Rainey Endowed School 6-4 Ballymena Academy1983 Grosvenor High School 10-7 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1984 Methodist College 13-9 Belfast Royal Academy1985 Bangor Grammar School 12-3 Omagh Academy1986 Bangor Grammar School 17-4 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1987 Methodist College 10-9 Bangor Grammar School1988 Bangor Grammar School 13-4 Coleraine Academical Institution1989 Methodist College 26-12 Wallace High School1990 Methodist College 15-0 Campbell College1991 Methodist College 23-7 Coleraine Academical Institution1992 Coleraine Academical Institution 35-21 Methodist College1993 Campbell College 46-13 Dalriada School1994 Regent House, Newtownards 8-3 Wallace High School1995 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 18-9 Bangor Grammar School1996 Methodist College 9-9 Regent House, Newtownards shared1997 Belfast Royal Academy 12-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution1998 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 57-3 Coleraine Academical Institution1999 Campbell College 18-7 Ballymena Academy2000 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 24-6 Ballymena Academy2001 Methodist College 8-6 Royal Belfast Academical Institution2002 Campbell College 12-10 Methodist College2003 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 23-10 Wallace High School2004 The Royal School, Armagh 14-5 Campbell College2005 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 12-10 Methodist College2006 Methodist College 11-5 Campbell College2007 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 15-0 Wallace High School2008 Methodist College 36-0 Regent House, Newtownards2009 Methodist College 16-0 Royal Belfast Academical Institution2010 Ballymena Academy 10-7 Belfast Royal Academy2011 Campbell College 18-11 Royal Belfast Academical Institution2012 Methodist College Belfast 22-6 Ballyclare High School2013 Methodist College Belfast 20-5 Royal Belfast Academical Institution2014 Methodist College Belfast 27-12 Sullivan Upper School2015 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 14-10 Wallace High School2016 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 13-3 Campbell College2017 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 12-8 Methodist College BelfastSubsidiary Shield 1971-2003, Schools' Shield 2004-
1971 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 9-8 Down High School1972 Grosvenor High School 16-9 Royal School Dungannon1973 Portadown College 7-0 Belfast Boys' Model1974 Down High School 9-4 Portadown College1975 Dalriada School 4-3 Carrickfergus Grammar School1976 Ballymena Academy 9-6 Belfast Royal Academy1977 Campbell College 4-3 Belfast Royal Academy1978 Coleraine Academical Institution 20-0 Belfast High School1979 Ballymena Academy 10-0 Carrickfergus Grammar School1980 Sullivan Upper, Holywood 3-0 Down High School1981 Belfast High School 10-6 Larne Grammar School1982 Friends School Lisburn 12-9 Down High School1983 Belfast Royal Academy 11-6 Wallace High School, Lisburn1984 Bangor Grammar School 9-9 Belfast High School Trophy Shared1985 Cambridge House, Ballymena 10-3 Coleraine Academical Institution1986 Omagh Academy 3-3 Wallace High School, Lisburn Trophy Shared1987 Belfast Royal Academy 8-6 Portadown College1988 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 9-7 Ballyclare High School1989 Bangor Grammar School 9-3 Coleraine Academical Institution1990 Portadown College 7-0 Rainey Endowed School1991 Royal School Dungannon 10-6 Larne Grammar School1992 Ballymena Academy 15-0 Larne Grammar School1993 Coleraine Academical Institution 31-16 Ballymena Academy1994 Omagh Academy 13-0 Campbell College1995 Coleraine Academical Institution 16-11 Ballymena Academy1996 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 31-15 Portadown College1997 Portadown College 16-9 Ballymena Academy1998 Rainey Endowed School 8-6 The Royal School, Armagh1999 The Royal School, Armagh 26-3 Bangor Grammar School2000 Royal School Dungannon 22-19 Portadown College2001 Coleraine Academical Institution 28-7 Royal School Dungannon2002 Coleraine Academical Institution 23-12 Ballyclare High School2003 Coleraine Academical Institution 17-17 Campbell College Trophy Shared2004 Methodist College Belfast 19-13 Wallace High School, Lisburn2005 Belfast Royal Academy 16-12 Ballyclare High School2006 Ballymena Academy 17-11 Regent House, Newtownards2007 Ballymena Academy 32-12 Portadown College2008 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 27-12 Coleraine Academical Institution2009 Ballymena Academy 36-19 Coleraine Academical Institution2010 The Royal School, Armagh 22-10 Campbell College2011 Ballymena Academy 33-5 Bangor Grammar School2012 The Royal School, Armagh 24-3 Limavady Grammar School2013 Campbell College 19-5 Belfast Royal Academy2014 Dalriada School 12-3 Ballymena Academy2015 Ballymena Academy 20-10 Down High School2016 Wallace High School 21-5 Down High School 2017 Down High School 19-13 Ballyclare High School2004 Regent House, Newtownards 22-0 Dalriada School2005 Rainey Endowed School 24-5 Carrickfergus Grammar School2006 Foyle and Londonderry College 22-19 Limavady Grammar School2007 Royal School Dungannon 11-11 Sullivan Upper, Holywood Trophy Shared2008 Foyle and Londonderry College 39-24 Cambridge House, Ballymena2009 The Royal School, Armagh 17-7 Grosvenor Grammar School2010 Foyle and Londonderry College 28-7 Grosvenor Grammar School2011 Rainey Endowed School 14-11 Friends School Lisburn2012 Sullivan Upper School 24-12 Belfast Royal Academy2013 Omagh Academy 24-0 Rainey Endowed School2014 Foyle College 11-5 Banbridge Academy2015 Dalriada School 31-15 Rainey Endowed School2016 Portora Royal School 20-7 Grosvenor Grammar School 2004 Lurgan College 18-8 Cambridge House, Ballymena2005 Strabane Grammar School 24-13 Lurgan College2006 Down High School 48-5 Lurgan College2007 Larne Grammar School 11-3 Omagh Academy2008 Larne Grammar School 12-0 Dalriada School2009 Carrickfergus Grammar School 34-26 Down High School2010 Cambridge House 15-14 Portadown College - Cambridge House fielded an ineligible player in the final and the Trophy was awarded to Portadown College2011 Portora Royal School 22-5 Omagh Academy2012 Omagh Academy 9-5 Larne Grammar School2013 Banbridge Academy 32-0 Portora Royal School2014 Royal School Dungannon 17-15 Wellington College Belfast2015 Royal School Dungannon 29-10 Lurgan College2016 Banbridge Academy 15-0 Belfast High School