Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 21st March 2026.
The Last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ finals played outside of the Affidea Stadium took place at Carrickfergus Grammar School on Friday 13th March when Ballymena Academy and Campbell College, Belfast met in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Final.
At the end of this exciting Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Final, the final score was Ballymena Academy 15 Campbell College, Belfast 24.
After the final whistle, John Wilson, a member of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Neil Stewart, for the way in which he controlled the game, thanked Neal Kennedy and the Carrickfergus Grammar School ground staff for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 21st season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
John then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate to Tom Osborne, captain of the Campbell College, Belfast Medallion team.
On Saturday 14th March, Larne Grammar School hosted Antrim Grammar School and Cambridge House Grammar School in an U17 Blitz Tournament which saw over 120 players getting a runout.
For Antrim Grammar School, players such as Daniel Blair, Jonah Woolley, Rio McKee, Cameron Molyneaux and Calum Lavery impressed with their performances.
For Cambridge House Grammar School, players such as Tim Sittlington, James Johnston, David Theodorescu, Jack Irwin, James Frew, Cody Bamber, Ronan Carr, Rylie Gamble and Ollie Warwick all got on the score sheet in the course of the morning.
For Larne Grammar School, players such Matthew Crawford, Benjamin Sterling, Jamie Jones, Jonnie Kennedy, Charlie Stewart, Daniel McMullan, Mark Date, Ben Ledlie, William McIlwaine, Etha Warwick and Otis McKee displayed great skills and commitment in the course of all the games played.
Tuesday 17th March saw a capacity crowd attend the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final, the Blue Riband event of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ season, at the Affidea Stadium, when Campbell College, Belfast played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in an enthralling game of schoolboy rugby.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution took a 19-12 lead into the break before the Campbell College, Belfast team emerged as 26-22 winners with a last play of the game goal.
James Wells opened the scoring for the Campbell College, Belfast team with an early unconverted try to see his team into a 5-0 lead.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team responded instantaneously when Adam Millar nipped in for an unconverted try to level the score at 5-5.
Five minutes later, the Campbell College, Belfast team regained the lead when David Nelson beavered his way over the whitewash to touch down for a try.
Jack Best added the extras to see the Campbell College, Belfast team into a 12-5 lead.
Back came the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team with a try from Cian McClean, converted by Charlie O’Connor, to draw the teams level at 12-12.
Ten minutes before the break, Cian McClean burst through once again to touch down for his second try of the game.
Another Charlie O’Connor conversion saw the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team into a 19-12 lead, a lead they held onto until the interval.
Early in the second half, Harry Wells joined his brother on the Campbell College, Belfast scoresheet when he ran in for a try, once again converted by Jack Best, to see the teams draw level once again, with the scoreboard reading 19-19.
Heading into the final quarter of the game, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team once again regained their lead when a Charlie O’Connor penalty saw his team take a 22-19 lead.
With the final action of this see saw game, the Campbell College, Belfast team laid siege on the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team line. Eventually, David Nelson got his hands on the ball and scrambled his way over the line to touch down for the match winning try.
The trusty boot of Jack Best converted the try which ensured the final score in this exciting Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final would read Campbell College, Belfast 26 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 22.
After the final whistle, Paul Hart, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Keane Davidson, and his team of Ross Whitfield and Colin Stanley, for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked the staff at Ulster Rugby for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 21st season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Paul, along with the Danske Bank CEO, Vicky Davies, then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup to Paul Henry, captain of the Campbell College, Belfast team.
On Wednesday 18th March, Coleraine Grammar School played a Development xv against St Andrew’s College from Dublin.
This gave the Coleraine Grammar School coaching staff to use an extended squad of players to see how they would fare against quality opposition.
Players such as Cody Moffatt, Noah Beggs, Charlie Millar, Jamie Watson, Joshua Chambers and, especially, Austin Henry, impressed with their performances in the Coleraine Grammar School pack.
This laid the foundation for the Coleraine Grammar School back line, with players such as Ben Todd, Reuben Nicholl, Joe Coates, Luke McMillan and Feidhlim Penfold to the fore, to ask many questions off the St Andrew’s College, Dublin defence.
Down High School hosted a recent U12 Blitz tournament with 12 schools taking part in an exciting morning of U12 rugby.
At the end of the tournament, Sullivan Upper School emerged as the winners of the Shield competition, Royal School, Armagh as winners of the Bowl competition and Banbridge Academy as winners of the Trophy competition.
Thanks to Josh Pentland, his Down High School colleagues and pupils, for organising such an enjoyable morning of U12 rugby,
On Thursday 19th March, Coleraine Grammar School was the venue when 16 teams arrived to take part in an U14 Seven-a-Side tournament.
Each team played three group stage games before progressing into Cup, Plate, Shield and Bowl play-off games.
The final results, in each of the competitions, read Coleraine Grammar School 12 Wallace High School 10 in the Cup, Ballymena Academy 28 Foyle and Londonderry College 26 in the Plate, Banbridge Academy 33 Antrim Grammar School 14 in the Shield and Sullivan Upper School 26 Cambridge House Grammar School 19 in the Bowl.
The event was organised by Kieran Campbell, himself an International Sevens player, assisted by staff and pupils from Coleraine Grammar School.
Everyone involved thoroughly the day of exciting U14 Seven-a-Side rugby.
On Saturday 21st March, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School hosted an U13 Blitz Tournament, organised by Ashley Finlay and his staff colleagues and sponsored by the Greentown Company.
Over 270 players from 12 teams from all around the province participated with each team playing three group stage games before progressing into Shield and Plate play-off games.
In the final placings of the morning’s activities, Sullivan Upper School played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and won the Shield while Bangor Grammar School played Omagh Academy and won the Plate.
Meanwhile, at Campbell College, Belfast the annual Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Sevens took place with 20 teams participating.
At the end of a splendid morning’s Seven-a-Side competition, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School emerged as the Bowl winners, Larne Grammar School were the Plate winners with the Sullivan Upper School team winning the HJ McKinney Cup competition.
The event was organised by Johnny Cupitt, Ritchie McMaster, Richard Boyd assisted by many of their Campbell College, Belfast colleagues and pupils.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Senior Seven-a-Side Tournament will take place at Queen’s University RFC on Friday 20th March with one of the longest lasting sponsored school U14 rugby events, the O’Kane U14 Cup, taking place at Ballymena Academy on Saturday 28th March.