Domestic Rugby Season Review

As the domestic rugby season for 2015/2016 draws to a close we take a look at the competitions throughout the year.

To view all Munster competition winners click here

Click here for Senior Clubs

Click here for Junior Clubs

Click here for Women's Rugby

Click here for Underage Rugby

Click here for Schools Rugby

Senior Clubs

With an impressive season throughout all divisions of the AIL, a total of four Munster senior clubs gained league promotion.

Cork club UCC, who finished third in Division 2A, will play in AIL Division 1B next season, following their promotion win over Blackrock College in the playoffs at Stradbrook in April.

Fellow Cork clubs Highfield and Sundays Well were also promoted from Division 2B to 2A with the Woodleigh Park side finishing off their season top of the division. Highfield also claimed the runners up spot in the Senior Plate losing out to Cashel in the final.

Sundays Well finished in the top four of the league to qualify for the playoffs where they overcame Greystones on home soil at Irish Independent Park to secure a 2A place in next season's league.

Division 2C was also claimed by a Munster club with Limerick side Old Crescent finishing top of the table to guarantee their place in 2B next season.

The Rosbrien side also reached the semi final stage of the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup where they suffered defeat to neighbours Young Munster.

Munster Senior Club of the Year 2016 Cork Constitution, retained both the Munster Senior Challenge Cup and the Bateman Cup for their fourth year in row.

Adding to their silverware, they claimed the Cork Charity Cup title with Young Munster winning the Limerick Charity Cup.

Finishing second in Division 1A, with fellow Munster Senior Challenge Cup finalists Young Munster taking third spot, both sides met in the All Ireland semi final playoff with the Temple Hill outfit claiming the honours in a thrilling encounter.

Con progressed to the league final where they were narrowly beaten by Clontarf at the Aviva Stadium.

Junior Clubs

For Clonmel it was another great season winning the Munster Junior League Division 1 title for a second consecutive year.

In their first year promoted to Division 1 of the Munster Junior League, Junior Club of the Year Bandon RFC claimed the runners up spot, finishing 5 points adrift of the Tipperary side.

Bandon reached the semi final of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup but suffered a defeat to eventual winners Young Munster at Clifford Park.

Clonmel's hopes of reaching the All Ireland League next season were dashed when they lost at home to Enniscorthy and Bangor in the round robin of the Provincial League Championship.

St. Mary's and Waterpark had a disappointing end to their league finishing up bottom two, resulting in relegation to Division 2 next season.

The Waterford club did however boast silverware claiming the Junior Plate with Nenagh Ormond taking the runners up spot.

Abbeyfeale took the spoils in Division 2 with East Cork side Cobh coming second. In a very tight division, with just one point that separated the top two sides, both clubs were promoted for next season. Abbeyfeale also claimed the Junior Club Challenge Shield to end a great year for the Limerick outfit.

Dungarvan finished bottom of the table and will join Ennis who have both been relegated to Division 3 next season.

Division 3 club Youghal and Crosshaven were both promoted after they were relegated last year.

Young Munster were crowned Munster Junior Cup champions for the eighth time following a win over Cork Constitution at Irish Independent Park. The Cookies ended a 17 year drought having last claimed the cup in 1999.

Munster Junior 1 Division 1 League Winners Clonmel RFC

Women's Rugby

The Munster Women claimed their 11^th Interprovincial title this season, by winning all three matches of the series captained by Ireland international Niamh Briggs.

In an impressive season for the Limerick outfit, UL Bohemian finished top of the All Ireland League but were overcome by Old Belvedere in the playoffs to narrowly lose out on the All Ireland title.

The Bohs women claimed the Munster Women's Senior Cup by defeating Highfield at Garryowen FC. The Limerick side went on to represent Munster in the All Ireland Cup losing out to Cooke at the semi final stage.

Division 1 of the Munster Women's qualifying league was won by Tralee who also claimed the Munster Bowl, while the Munster Shield was won by Thurles.

Munster Women's Senior Cup Winners UL Bohemian

Underage

This year's Munster Youth Club of the year went to Waterpark with both their Under 18s and Under 16s winning their respective cup titles in a unique double at Thomond Park Stadium.

It was a three in a row for Waterpark's Under 16s who edged out Bruff in the final to claim this year's title.

Thomond Park Stadium hosted four of the six of the Bank of Ireland Youth Finals on the same day, which saw Cork side Kanturk overcome Ballincollig to claim the Under 18 Bowl and Kilfeacle & District take the Bowl title at Under 16 level.

Irish Independent Park hosed the Munster Under 18 Plate and Munster Under 16 Plate finals on the same day with Tralee coming out on top over Old Christians at Under 18 level. West Cork side Clonakilty took the spoils against their neighbours Kinsale to claim the Under 16 Plate.

Winners of the Munster U18 Cup Waterpark RFC

Schools

Munster School of the Year 2016 was awarded to Christian Brothers College who this season claimed their 29^th Bank of Ireland Munster Schools Senior Cup title by defeating Crescent College Comprehensive at Irish Independent Park.

CBC also reached the Bank of Ireland Munster Schools Junior Cup final, however Crescent College sought revenge for their senior counterparts to claim this year's title in a replay at Thomond Park Stadium.

In a remarkable season for the Cork school, CBC also claimed the Bowen Shield, Br. O'Reilly Cup, McCarthy Cup 'B' title, and the Kidney Cup. The Sidney Hill school also reached the McCarthy Cup 'A' final but suffered defeat from Presentation Brothers College who claimed the title.

This year's McCarthy Cup 'C' title went to High School Clonmel who also won the Cleary Cup. Midleton College won the Mungret Cup and Mungret Shiled while St. Caimins claimed the O'Brien Cup.

SMI Newcastlewest, Tarbert Comprehensive School and St. Clements also claimed some silverware by winning the King Cup, Giles Shield and O'Gorman Cup respectively, while St. Munchin's College defeated High School Clonmel to win the Junior Limerick City Cup.

CBC Munster Schools Senior Cup Winners 2016