The Men’s match on Saturday is the 70th Colours Match and doubles as a critical AIL Div 1A league match and a Dudley Cup challenge* by UCD.

*The Dudley Cup is the senior inter Irish Universities Rugby Un ion competition and is named after Lord Dudley, former Viceroy of Ireland who donated the trophy following a visit by King Edward VII to what became UCC in August 1903.

The first Dudley Cup final was held in March 1904, with Queens University Belfast the inaugural winners. The Dudley Cup has been competed for on 71 occasions.

The Dudley Cup is played for now between the five senior  University clubs playing in the AIL, namely: University College Dublin; Dublin University; Queens University Belfast; MU Barnhall RFC; and University College Cork. Since 2018 it has been played on 10 occasions on a Ranfurly Shield challenge to the holder basis, with the Holder having home advantage. Trinity has won 4 challenges in this period and is the current holder.