1990-91 was the first season of the All-Ireland League, Ireland's top rugby union club competition. Cork Constitution were champions.
Background
editIn 1985 the IRFU proposed an All-Ireland League, but promised to implement it only if there was a strong majority of clubs in favour. The vote of senior clubs was 23 for and 23 against, with two abstentions, and the proposal was withdrawn.[1] But following New Zealand's victory in the inaugural Rugby World Cup, England and Wales moved to emulate their competitive national league structure, and the idea of a national league for Ireland was revived.[2]
In June 1988 the IRFU announced plans for an All-Ireland League, to begin in the 1990-91 season. There would be two divisions. Division 1 would have nine teams, three from Leinster, three from Ulster and three from Munster, and Division 2 would have ten teams, three from Leinster, three from Ulster, two from Munster and two from Connacht. Teams would qualify based on their performances in the provincial senior leagues over the previous three seasons, and would play eight or nine games alongside their provincial league seasons, in place of interprovincial friendlies. Two teams would be promoted from Division 2 to Division 1, and two teams from Division 1 would be relegated to Division 2.[3] There would also be promotion and relegation between Division 2 and the provincial leagues.[4]
For the first three seasons, there were 19 teams in two divisions, 9 in Division 1, 10 in division 2. The bottom two teams in Division 1 were related, replaced by the top two teams in division 2. The bottom three teams in Division 2 were related, replaced by three teams decided by playoffs.
Tables
editDivision 1
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 119 | 78 | 14 | Champions | |
| 2 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 76 | 12 | ||
| 3 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 99 | 12 | ||
| 4 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 108 | 99 | 10 | ||
| 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 113 | 112 | 7 | ||
| 6 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 99 | 116 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 91 | 106 | 4 | ||
| 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 83 | 112 | 4 | Relegated | |
| 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 80 | 145 | 2 | Relegated |
Division 2
edit| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 143 | 72 | 16 | Promoted | |
| 2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 127 | 67 | 14 | Promoted | |
| 3 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 154 | 101 | 13 | ||
| 4 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 174 | 70 | 12 | ||
| 5 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 146 | 91 | 10 | ||
| 6 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 103 | 71 | 9 | ||
| 7 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 129 | 111 | 9 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 90 | 166 | 4 | Relegated | |
| 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 55 | 190 | 3 | Relegated | |
| 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 46 | 228 | 0 | Relegated |
Promoted next season
editReferences
edit- ^ David Walsh, "Yes to the World Cup... but the All Ireland League is rejected", Sunday Press, 27 October 1985
- ^ Neil McKay, "All-Ireland move coming", News Letter, 8 October 1987
- ^ Jim Stokes, "Irish rugby to get new look in 1990", Belfast Telegraph, 10 June 1988
- ^ Neil McKay, "IRFU set up united league", News Letter, 10 June 1988