Wikipedia

IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

The IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series, previously known as the IWRFU Interprovincial Championship, is the top level women's rugby union competition in Ireland. It is organised by the Irish Rugby Football Union. It is the women's equivalent of the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. The competition takes place every December and features four teams representing Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.[1][2] The competition effectively acts as a selection trials process for the Ireland women's national rugby union team that competes in the subsequent Women's Six Nations Championship.[3] Since 2016 the IRFU has also organised a similar under 18s competition.[4]

IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series
Current season or competition:
2024 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series
SportWomen's rugby union
Number of teams4
ProvinceConnacht Connacht
Leinster Leinster
Munster Munster
Ulster Ulster
HoldersLeinster Leinster (8th title)
Most titlesMunster Munster (15 titles)
Websitewww.irishrugby.ie
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Location of IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series Provinces:
Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland

Format

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The competition currently uses a round-robin format, similar to the one used in both the Six Nations Championship and the Women's Six Nations Championship. Each team plays the other three teams once. The following year the fixtures are reversed.[1] In recent seasons, the competition has also featured playoffs and a final.[5][6][7]

Winners

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Year Winner Final Runner-Up Venue
1999   Ulster ?
2000   Ulster ?
2001   Munster[5][6]   Ulster
2002   Munster[5][6] 27-00   Leinster Clonmel RFC
2003   Munster[5][6] 25-10   Leinster Navan R.F.C.
2004   Munster[5][6] 10-10^   Leinster Clontarf F.C.
2005   Leinster[5][6] 17–07   Munster Clontarf F.C.
2006   Munster[8][7] 11–10   Leinster Musgrave Park, Cork
2007   Munster[9] 11–10   Leinster Galway Sportsgrounds
2008   Munster[7] 10–05   Leinster Civil Service Sports Club, Belfast
2009   Munster[10] 09-06   Leinster Donnybrook Stadium
2010   Munster[10] 21-03   Leinster Donnybrook Stadium
2011   Leinster[11] 25-05   Munster Highfield R.F.C.
2012   Munster[12] 15-12   Leinster Ashbourne RFC
2013   Leinster 21-06   Munster Thomond Park
2014   Munster[13] 07-00   Leinster Ashbourne RFC
2015   Munster 15-07   Leinster Thomond Park
2016   Leinster[14] 05-08^^   Connacht Tuam RFC
2017   Munster[15] 11-05   Leinster Thomond Park
2018   Leinster 14-14^*   Munster Donnybrook Stadium
2019   Leinster 25-12   Connacht Donnybrook Stadium
2020-2021 Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021-2022   Munster[16] 19-07   Leinster Donnybrook Stadium
2022-2023   Munster[17]   Leinster round-robin
2023-2024   Leinster[18] 33-14   Munster Musgrave Park
2024-2025   Leinster[19] 27-07   Munster Kingspan Stadium

^ Munster win title due to superior points table difference

^^ Both sides finished the campaign with two wins and a loss but Leinster's superior scoring difference +52 during round-robin (Connaught's +26)

^* Both sides finished the campaign with two wins and a draw but Leinster's superior scoring difference +64 during round-robin (Munster's +37)

Source:[1]

All-time record

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Province Titles Runners-Up Years
Munster Rugby 15 6 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021-2022, 2022-2023
Leinster Rugby 8 14 2005, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023-2024, 2024-2025
Ulster Rugby 2 1 1999, 2000
Connacht Rugby - 2 -

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Women's Interprovincial Series". www.irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Ulster Women". www.ulsterrugby.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Irish Interpros". www.scrumqueens.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Ulster Girls U18". www.ulsterrugby.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Leinster ladies win first Interpro crown". www.irishexaminer.com. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Women's: Leinster End Munster's Grip On Interpro Title". www.irishrugby.ie. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Munster Women Make It Three-In-A-Row". www.irishrugby.ie. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Tight Game Expected In Women's Interpro Final". www.irishrugby.ie. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Munster Women Claim Interpro Title". munsterrugby.ie. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Niamh Briggs Honoured Women's Player of the Year". munsterrugby.ie. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Exciting Start To Women's Interpros". www.irishrugby.ie. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Dates Confirmed For Women's Interprovincial Series". www.irishrugby.ie. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Munster Women Regain Interpro Crown". www.irishrugby.ie. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Preview: 2017 Women's Interprovincial Series". www.leinsterrugby.ie. 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Tears of joy as Munster regain Interpro title after scoring difference is required to pip Leinster". www.the42.ie. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Final Table".
  17. ^ "Munster Outgun Connacht In Galway To Retain Interpro Title". Irish Rugby. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Leinster scupper Munster's three-in-a-row tilt to claim Interpro title". Irish Examiner. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Women's Interprovincial Championship final recap: Munster 7-27 Leinster". RTE Sport. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
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