The Energia All Ireland Leagues get going this coming weekend with the Women’s Division first out of the blocks followed by the Men’s on October 1st.
Railway Union will begin the defence of their AIL Women’s Division crown at home to Malone. Larissa Muldoon has been added to Railway’s coaching ticket as a senior coach, while it is an all new set up for the Cregagh Red Sox with Dave Cave and Austen Blackburn their joint head coaches.
Austen is a 14-year veteran of the AIL with the Malone men’s side, and Cave is a current AIL player with the club. Lynn Wilson, a long-standing servant of the club, has been named as team manager.
Last season’s beaten finalists Blackrock College get their first competitive hit-out against Wicklow, while Cooke are another Ulster side with a new coaching set-up – Colm Finnegan heads up a coaching team that includes former Ireland international Ashleigh Orchard. Their first game is away to Suttonians.
Old Belvedere and UL Bohemians meet in a repeat of last season’s 3rd-4th place play-off, and Galwegians host Ballincollig in their first outing of the new campaign.
In the Men’s Divisions, promoted Shannon will face a stiff test for their return to the top flight as they host 2022 runners-up Terenure College.
There is a classic provincial derby pencilled in for October 1 at Temple Hill as Cork Constitution face Young Munster, while Garryowen round out the action in Munster at home to Dublin University.
Reigning champions Clontarf must travel across the Liffey to face UCD in round 1, and Lansdowne are at home to Ballynahinch.
There are a number of changes to formats this season, following on from the IRFU and Clubs meeting over the summer.
The Energia All-Ireland League Women’s Division will continue in its extended format with 10 teams participating. This will mark the second season of this format with no relegation taking place, however, teams will be able to qualify for the Women’s Division from 2023/24 onwards. This will be through the introduction of an Energia All Ireland Women’s Junior Cup.
There will also be a new qualification format for the Energia All Ireland League Men’s Division and the return of the Club International Series.
The Women’s Division is starting earlier to ensure meaningful competition for clubs while providing Ireland with the time to focus on achieving a top three finish in the 2023 Six Nations and securing a place in tier one of the World Rugby WXV tournament.
