All Ireland League Format 2011/2012

The IRFU have announced changes to the All Ireland League for season 2011/2012.

The number of clubs participating in the league will be raised from 48 to 52.

Next season’s league 2010/2011 will still have the same format as last season. Division 1A and 1B will consist of eight teams each playing home and away and Division 2 and 3 will consist of 16 sides with each club playing each other once, 15 games.

In season 2011/12 the league will have a Division 1A and 1B of ten teams each and they will play home and away. Division 2A and 2B will consist of sixten teams each with each side playing 15 games.

To achieve the format for season 2011/2012 next season’s league will have the following promotion and relegation.

The top two clubs in Division 1B will be promoted to Division 1A (to give a ten-team league).
A play-off between bottom club in Division 1A and 3rd team in Division 1B.

The top four clubs in Division 2 will be promoted to Division 1B (to give a ten-team league).
A play-off between bottom club in Division 1B and 5th team in Division 2.

The remaining clubs in Division 2 will play in the new Division 2A.
The top four clubs in Division 3 will be promoted to the new Division 2A.
A play-off between bottom club in Division 2 and 5th team in Division 3.

The remaining clubs in Division 3 will play in the new Division 2B.
There will be no relegation from Division 3.
The four provincial Qualifying League winners will be promoted to the new Division 2B.

When the new structure is operational, there will be one automatic promotion and relegation between Division 1A and 1B. and a play off between the side that finished 9th in Division 1A and the side that finished second in Division 1B.

Two sides will be relegated from Division 1B to Division 2A and the top two sides in Division 2A will be promoted to Division 1B.

Two sides will be promoted and relegated from Division 2A and 2B. The side that finishes in 14th position in Division 2A will play off against the side that finishes 3rd in Division 2B.

The side that finishes bottom of Division 2B will be relegated from the All Ireland League and the winners of the Qualifying League will be promoted to Division 2B.
There will be a play off between the sides that finishes second last in Division 2B and the runners up in the Qualifying League.

From season 2010/2011 the structure of the All Ireland Cup will change to a “Bateman” style Cup where the Provincial Cup winners will compete in semi finals and finals to determine the AIL Cup winners.

There will be changes in the league as to the eligibility of full contracted Provincial players.

The Munster Junior League will have a different format for next season (2010/2011) with 14 sides playing in Division 1 & 2 and 13 sides playing in Division 3. Bantry Bay will be playing in Division 3 next season.