On Saturday 25th January D.U.F.C. will host UCC in College Park. KO 2.30pm. This Saturday’s game is not just an All-Ireland League fixture, it is also a challenge for the Dudley Cup, the premier trophy in universities’ rugby. The Dudley Cup which is the senior inter-Irish Universities Rugby Union competition. It 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 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 11 occasions on a Ranfurly Shield challenge to the holder basis, with the Holder having home advantage. Trinity has won 5 challenges in this period and is the current holder.

Special thanks to Moira Flahive who is the Match Ball sponsor for this match.

For those unable to make it to College Park, the game will be live-streamed HERE