THE IRFU HAS confirmed that an ‘A’ inter-provincial men’s championship will kick off next month, with a new trophy to be awarded to the winners.
Each of the provinces’ second-string sides will play six games this season, with the final round set for May.
The inter-pro championship will use a similar match points-scoring system to the URC, with the winners lifting a “legacy trophy” the IRFU is commissioning to mark its 150th anniversary celebrations.
The championship gets underway on 16 November with Leinster A visiting the Connacht Eagles at Creggs RFC, with the IRFU keen for local clubs to host these games.
The following weekend, Ulster welcome Connacht to Ballymacaran Park, home of Ballynahinch RFC, while Leinster will host Munster at Terenure RFC’s home ground of Lakelands.
New Ormond Park, where Nenagh Ormond RFC recently opened their new artificial surface, will be the venue for Munster’s clash with Ulster at the end of November, with further venues and exact dates to be confirmed.
16 November is the only date in the championship that directly overlaps with All-Ireland League fixtures.
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition,” said IRFU performance director David Humphreys.
“With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The IRFU says ticket details for these games will be confirmed by the provinces.
Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship:
Saturday 16 November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday 22 November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm)
Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday 29 November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday 20 December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday 21 December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc)
Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc)
Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
- This article was updated at 9.11am on 1 November to correct the teams in the fifth paragraph.
Think i am next in line for a call up at this stage
Probably do a better job!
Lump on montenegro they are even money..we have no chance
Makes no sense playing an international friendly this time of year
Our first competitive match is September I thought, we need to play something
does it clash with your precious English league?
Nip down the Astro and grab a few lads
This doesn’t come as a surprise to me, what professional is going to line up for an international friendly against a fairly rough Serb side a couple of days before his club season begins. Only the FAI would be stupid to schedule it for then .Im sure players like Hoolahan and Pilkington want to play for Ireland but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Norwich team doctor or Paul lambert have had a little word as well, and who could blame them?
I’m pretty sure Paul Lambert won’t mind as he’s at Villa now….
ah why would paul lambert talk to norwich players??
I’ll get my coat……..
jesus a dislike for asking that……
lol
non event
with playing our first qualifier in September for the next campaign, this is far from a non event. trap has to try something new after the slaying he got because of the euros.
Just before the kick off of the season of course the clubs are going to do a sick note for the players.Silly time for friendlies.
How do you replace a whole team/organisation.
Trap’s policy of not blooding new players has come back to haunt him. He refused to introduce young players into games in the past. Now that he has lost some of his core team we have a very inexperienced squad.. It’s hard to blame the younger players for not being enthusiastic about playing for him after their previous treatment. I have to agree with the criticism about the timing of the game. This a money making venture for the FAI and has no consideration for players or their clubs?
Think your going to get a lot of this over the next couple of years have a feeling a lot of players might not want to play under trap
Once again Delaney and Co, make a mess, with just days before the start of a new English season he has a friendly, just to try make a few bob to cover his and Trapps wages.
In the words of the great Gnarls Barkley “who cares?”