Ulster Senior League

:"For the soccer league of the same name, see Ulster Senior League (association football)."

The Ulster Senior League is a rugby union competition for senior clubs in the Irish province of Ulster. It has traditionally being ranked second in importance to the Ulster Senior Cup. It has declined in importance due to the formation of the All-Ireland League and growth in importance of the Heineken Cup.

The Senior League has had a chequered history. Its value was marred in the amateur era by periods when the elite clubs like North, Instonians and Collegians withdrew from the league to allow them to fulfil more friendly fixtures - particularly against English and Welsh opposition. This attitude from some of the senior clubs even lead to the scrapping of the league in 1930, and it was not re-established until after World War II. The practice of withdrawing from the league finally died out in the 1970s.

Mostly the league was played in one section on an all-play-all home and away basis. However with the expansion of the number of Senior Clubs in 1980, two sections were formed and the top two teams qualified for semi-finals. This allowed for a showpiece final at the end of the season.

The two section arrangement continued until 1990 when the advent of professionalism and preparation for the All-Ireland League, saw the league separated into two sections based on playing ability. Promotion and relegation between the two sections was introduced at this time.

Winners

1890s

* 1891 Queen's University RFC
* 1892 North of Ireland FC
* 1893 NIFC
* 1894 NIFC
* 1895 NIFC
* 1896 NIFC
* 1897 NIFC
* 1898 NIFC
* 1899 NIFC

1900s

* 1900 Queen's University RFC
* 1901 NIFC
* 1902 NIFC
* 1903 Collegians
* 1904 Malone
* 1905 Malone
* 1906 Malone
* 1907 Malone
* 1908 Collegians
* 1909 NIFC

1910s

* 1910
* 1911 Collegians
* 1912 Queen's University RFC
* 1913 Collegians
* 1914 Season abandoned due political crisis caused by Home Rule debate.
* 1915-1919 Not played due to World War I

1920s

* 1920 Queen's University RFC
* 1921 NIFC
* 1922 Queen's University RFC
* 1923 Queen's University RFC
* 1924 Queen's University RFC
* 1925 Instonians
* 1926 Instonians
* 1927 Instonians/NIFC
* 1928 Instonians
* 1929 Civil Service

1930s

* 1930 Bangor
* 1931-1945 Not Played

1940s

* 1946 NIFC
* 1947 Queen's University RFC
* 1948 Queen's University RFC
* 1949 Queen's University RFC

1950s

* 1950 Queen's University RFC
* 1951 Collegians/Instonians
* 1952 Collegians
* 1953 Instonians/Queen's University RFC
* 1954 Instonians/Queen's University RFC
* 1955 NIFC
* 1956 Collegians
* 1957 Instonians/Queen's University RFC
* 1958 Instonians
* 1959 NIFC

1960s

* 1960 Instonians
* 1961 Dungannon
* 1962 Collegians
* 1963 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1964 Queen's University RFC
* 1965 Dungannon
* 1966 NIFC
* 1967 Queen's University RFC
* 1968 Dungannon
* 1969 Malone

1970s

* 1970 Civil Service
* 1971 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1972 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1973 Ballymena/C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1974 C.I.Y.M.S.
* 1975 Bangor
* 1976 Ballymena
* 1977 Bangor
* 1978 Ballymena
* 1979 Ballymena

1980s

* 1980 Queen's University RFC
* 1981 Bangor beat Queen's University RFC
* 1982 Bangor beat Collegians
* 1983 Bangor beat Collegians
* 1984 Ards RFC beat Instonians
* 1985 Instonians beat Ards RFC
* 1986 Ballymena beat Bangor
* 1987 Instonians beat Ballymena
* 1988 Bangor beat Malone
* 1989 Ballymena beat Malone

1990s

* 1990 Ballymena beat Malone
* 1991 Dungannon beat Ards
* 1992 NIFC beat City of Derry
* 1993 Malone beat NIFC
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997 Ballymena
* 1998 Ballymena
* 1999

2000s

* 2000 City of Derry RFC
* 2001 Ballymena
* 2002 Ballymena
* 2003 Belfast Harlequins
* 2004 Belfast Harlequins
* 2005 Ballymena/Belfast Harlequins
* 2006 Ballymena/Dungannon
* 2007 Belfast Harlequins [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/6604623.stm|title=BBC report of 2006-07 title decider|accessdate=2007-08-28]
* 2008 Belfast Harlequins [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/7164346.stm|title=BBC Sport report of Belfast Harlequins title win in 2007-08|accessdate=2007-12-30]

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