Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 28th March 2026.
Despite the end of term coming on Friday 27th March, a number of school rugby events took place on both Friday 27th March and Saturday 28th March.
On Friday 27th March, sixteen schoolboy teams took part in the Ulster Schools’ Senior Sevens tournament at Queen’s RFC.
Organised by David Chambers, the Queen’s RFC Development Manager, this tournament saw some 240 players getting regular pitch time with the final taking place on the Dub Arena pitch.
The sixteen teams played out three group stage games with teams then divided into draws to compete for the Cup and Shield competitions.
The Royal School, Armagh team came through to win the Shield, defeating Belfast Royal Academy in the final.
After the final whistle, David Chambers presented the Ulster Schools’ Sevens Shield to Sam Gray, captain of the victorious Royal School, Armagh team.
Ballymena Academy and Methodist College, Belfast emerged from tough semi-finals against Larne Grammar School and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School to contest the Cup final.
At the end of this closely contested and exciting final, it was the Methodist College, Belfast team that emerged as winners of the Ulster Schools’ Senior Sevens Cup.
At the end of this superbly well organised day of seven-a-side rugby, Barney McGonigle, Ulster Schools’ PRO, presented the Ulster Schools’ Sevens Cup to Louis Curran, captain of the victorious Methodist College, Belfast team.
Meanwhile, at the Castlerock Road venue in Coleraine, Coleraine Grammar School hosted a twenty team U12 Blitz Tournament with teams competing for the Andrew Trimble Cup and the Trimbie Plate.
Eighteen teams from Ulster, along with two teams from Willow Park in Dublin, took part in the tournament with over 300 U12 players getting pitch team in the course of the day.
A very interested spectator at the tournament was the former Coleraine Grammar School, Ulster and Ireland player, and current ambassador for Coleraine Grammar School rugby, Andrew Trimble.
Once all the teams had participated in their group stage games, the Plate 1/2 Finals saw Enniskillen Royal Grammar School play Larne Grammar School with Willow Park 2 playing Belfast Royal Academy.
Willow Park 2 and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School went through to the Plate final with Willow Park 2 emerging as winners.
The Cup 1/2 Finals saw Ballymena Academy play Willow Park 1 with Coleraine Grammar School playing Methodist College, Belfast.
On the back of a great performance from Alfie White, the Coleraine Grammar School team went into the final of the Trimble Cup where they played Ballymena Academy.
At the end of an absorbing encounter, it was the Ballymena Academy captain, George Casson, who stepped forward to receive the Trimble Cup from Andrew Trimble.
This event was organised by Kieran Campbell and his colleagues from Coleraine Grammar School and was enjoyed by everyone involved.
On Saturday 28th March, the annual O’Kane Cup U14 tournament, now in its 49th season, took place at Ballymena Academy.
Once the group stage games had taken place, the 1/4 Final games took place with Ballymena Academy playing Ballyclare High School, Sullivan Upper School playing Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Grammar School playing Rainey Endowed School and Campbell College, Belfast playing Friends’ School, Lisburn.
The results of these 1/4 Final games then saw Ballymena Academy play Sullivan Upper School and Coleraine Grammar School play Campbell College, Belfast in the semi-finals.
Ballymena Academy then went through to the final where they played Coleraine Grammar School.
At the end of this exciting O’Kane Cup U14 tournament, it was Noah Taylor, captain of the Coleraine Grammar School U14 team who stepped forward to lift the O’Kane Cup.
This O’Kane Cup U14 tournament was organised by John Nicholl and his colleagues from Ballymena Academy with everyone involved really enjoying the occasion.
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Letterkenny RFC U18s on the WK Armstrong pitch in a game the Royal School, Dungannon team won by 44-14.
Harry Wylie, with two, Isaac Neil, with two, Matthew Smith, Adam Nixon and Matas Slajus scored the Royal School, Dungannon tries.
Joel Clarke was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
The Letterkenny RFC U18 team points came through tries from Jonathan Russell and Ben Ramsey with the trusty boot of Jack Robinson adding the extras to both tries.