Colleges Rugby News

A look at the Colleges’ Rugby calendar for the season ahead

The season starts with the semi-finals of the Colleges Interprovincial games. Munster Colleges face a tough first game against Ulster, the team they beat 23-11 in last year’s final. For an account of the two semi-finals and final see the article section at www.studentrugby.com, the website of the Irish Colleges Rugby Union (ICRU). Munster Colleges have won the title for the last two years and will be going for an historic three-in-a-row set of wins.

The Canadian U-21 side then visits Ireland and plays the Ulster Colleges in Derry, the Irish Colleges A side in Dublin and finish their tour with a game, under lights, against the Irish Colleges XV in Thomond Park.

The Interprovincial Final takes place in Dublin on December 20th.

After Christmas the Irish Colleges XV will play the Welsh Colleges in Cardiff and the Scottish Universities in Dublin. The Irish Colleges XV will be looking to continue their winning ways against these two sides. The Irish Colleges XV won 47-0 in both games in the reciprocal fixtures last year. The accounts of these games last year can also be found in the article section of studentrugby.com.

A new addition to the fixture list is a game in Dublin against the UK Combined Services U-23 side on the eve of the Ireland-England game. This will undoubtedly be a stern test for the Irish Colleges players and will prepare them for the games they will play in Canada in June/July.

The format of the tour will be two warm-up games, one being in Newfoundland, against Canadian Provincial U-21 sides and then a Quadrangular Tournament involving the US Collegiate Team, The English Universities, Canada U-21 and the Irish Colleges XV. Venues etc TBC.

The full list of fixtures and dates are given below with times and venues TBC.

Irish Colleges Rugby Union Fixtures Season 2006/2007

Tuesday November 7th 2006- Irish Colleges Inter Provincial Semi- Finals, Dublin

Munster Colleges V Ulster Colleges
Leinster Colleges V Connacht Colleges

Friday November 10th 2006- Ulster Colleges V Canada U-21, Derry

Tuesday November 14th 2006- Irish Colleges A V Canada U-21, Dublin

Friday November 17th 2006- Irish Colleges XV V Canada U-21, Limerick

Wednesday December 20th 2006- ICRU Inter Provincial Final- Dublin

Saturday February 3rd 2007- Welsh Colleges V Irish Colleges- Cardiff

Friday February 23rd 2007- Irish Colleges V UK Combined Services U-23- Dublin

Saturday March 10th 2007- Irish Colleges V Scottish Universities- Dublin

Irish Colleges Rugby Union Tour of Canada June/July 2007

Two warm-up games against Canadian Provincial teams and then a Quadrangular Tournament between Canada U-21s, English Universities, USA Collegiate team and ICRU XV.