Connacht Senior League (rugby union)

The Connacht Senior League is a rugby union competition for senior clubs in the Irish province of Connacht. It was first played for in 1925-26.^[1]

It has traditionally been ranked second in importance to the Connacht Senior Cup. With the formation of the All-Ireland League it has declined in importance somewhat with the advent of Professional Rugby, and the participation of the regional team Connacht Rugby in competitions such as the United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup.

Performance by Team

Club	Titles	Shared Titles	Recent Win
Galwegians	24	2	2014-15
Corinthians	24	2	1987-88
UCG	15	1	1974-75
Buccaneers	13		2022-23
Ballina	5		2020-21
Athlone	4	1	1988-89
Ballinasloe	4		1948-49
Sligo	2		2023-24
Loughrea	1		1926-27

Past winners

1920s

• 1925–26 Galwegians
• 1926–27 Loughrea
• 1927–28 Ballinasloe
• 1928–29 Ballina

1930s

• 1929–30 Ballina
• 1930–31 UCG
• 1931–32 UCG
• 1932–33 UCG
• 1933–34 Corinthians
• 1934–35 UCG
• 1935–36 Corinthians
• 1936–37 UCG
• 1937–38 UCG
• 1938–39 Corinthians

1940s

• 1940 Corinthians
• 1941 Corinthians
• 1942 UCG
• 1943 Corinthians
• 1944 Corinthians
• 1945 Ballinasloe
• 1946 Ballinasloe
• 1947 Galwegians
• 1948 UCG
• 1949 Ballinasloe

1950s

• 1950 Corinthians
• 1951 Corinthians/Ballina
• 1952 Corinthians
• 1953 Ballina
• 1954 Corinthians
• 1955 UCG
• 1956 Athlone
• 1957 Galwegians
• 1958 Galwegians
• 1959 Galwegians

1960s

• 1960 Galwegians
• 1961 Galwegians
• 1962 UCG beat Galwegians
• 1963 UCG
• 1964 Galwegians
• 1965 Corinthians beat Athlone
• 1966 UCG/Galwegians
• 1967 UCG
• 1968 UCG
• 1969 UCG

1970s

• 1970 Galwegians
• 1971 Galwegians beat Ballinasloe
• 1972 Galwegians
• 1973 UCG
• 1974 Corinthians beat Athlone
• 1975 UCG
• 1976 Corinthians beat Athlone
• 1977 Athlone
• 1978 Corinthians
• 1979 Corinthians

1980s

• 1980 Corinthians
• 1981 Corinthians
• 1982 Corinthians
• 1983 Corinthians
• 1984 Galwegians beat Athlone
• 1985 Galwegians beat Athlone
• 1986 Corinthians beat Athlone
• 1987 Athlone
• 1988 Corinthians
• 1989 Athlone beat Corinthians

1990s

• 1990 Galwegians beat Corinthians
• 1991 Galwegians beat Sligo
• 1992 Galwegians beat Ballina
• 1993 Ballina beat Corinthians
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998 Buccaneers
• 1999 Buccaneers

2000s

• 2000 Buccaneers
• 2001 Galwegians
• 2002 Galwegians beat Buccaneers
• 2003 Galwegians
• 2004 Buccaneers beat Galwegians
• 2005 Galwegians
• 2006 Buccaneers beat Galwegians
• 2007 Buccaneers beat Galwegians
• 2008 Buccaneers beat Connemara 33-3
• 2009 Galwegians

2010s

• 2009–10 Galwegians
• 2010–11 Buccaneers
• 2011–12 Galwegians
• 2012–13 Galwegians
• 2013–14 Galwegians
• 2014–15 Galwegians^[2]
• 2015–16 Buccaneers^[3]
• 2016–17 Buccaneers^[4]
• 2017–18 Buccaneers beat Galwegians^[5]
• 2018–19 Buccaneers^[6]

2020s

• 2019–20 Sligo^[7]
• 2020-21 - No competition
• 2021–22 Ballina^[8]
• 2022–23 Buccaneers^[9]
• 2023–24 Sligo^[10]

See also

• Leinster Senior League
• Munster Senior League
• Ulster Senior League
• Connacht Senior Cup

References

1. Edmund Van Esbeck (1986), The Story of Irish Rugby. London:Stanley Paul
2. Galwegians Retain Connacht Senior League Title
3. http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/pirates-put-sligo-to-the-sword-to-recapture-league-title-31500233.html Buccaneers captured first Senior League title since 2007
4. Irish Independent
5. Buccaneers RFC
6. "Title already in the bag as Buccs head to Corinthians - Independent.ie". Independent.ie.
7. Sligo RFC
8. Ballina RFC
9. Connacht Rugby
10. Connacht Rugby