The IRFU Interprovincial Championship was a rugby union competition between the four provinces of Ireland – Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connacht – and, for a brief period the Irish Exiles, run by the Irish Rugby Football Union.
The Interprovincial Championship, often shrotened to the Interpros, was run as a distinct competition from 1946–47 to 2000–01,[1] with the 2001–02 fixtures being fulfilled by the match-ups in the newly formed Celtic League.
[2] For a time in the 1980s, the IRFU ruled that Irish diaspora players should play for Connacht, in an attempt to strengthen the weakest of the four provinces.
Replacements: Willie Anderson (Dungannon, for Tweed), Derek McAleese (Ballymena, for Russell).
This season, the IRFU Interprovincial Championship was sponsored by Cara Computers, and for the first time included the Irish Exiles.
Replacements: Michael Corcoran (St Mary's, for Murphy, 7'), Paul Hennberry (Terenure, for McGowan, 64') Coach: Jim Glennon.
Replacements: M. Dobson (Sale, for Kelly), Ray Hennessy (London Irish, for Staples), K. Rabitte (West Park, for Kernohan).
The 1995 IRFU Interprovincial Championship was the first to be held since rugby union was declared open to professionalism.
[142] Many involved in the game were concerned that domestic clubs could not afford to pay players, who could be lost to professional teams in England.
Replacements: Dominic Crotty (UCC, for Lacey, 77), Stephen Tuohy (Old Crescent, for Burke, 80).
Replacements: G. Aherne (Lansdowne, for McIvor, 61), C. Twomey (Cork Constitution, for Cunningham, 62), Stephen Tuohy (Old Crescent, for Burke, 68).
[162] The Irish Exiles were no longer able to compete as matches clashed with club games in England.
Replacements: Nigel Carolan (Corinthians, for Barry), Diarmuid Reddan (Galwegians, for Carey).
Full-time players would receive a retainer of £25,000, plus a win bonus of £500 for Heineken Cup matches.
[185] The title came down to a decider between Leinster and Munster at Donnybrook,[186] with both teams level on points going into the final weekend.
Replacements: Gary Leslie (for Irwin, 53), Tony McWhirter (for McKinty, 61), Richard Weir (for Clarke, 71) Sheldon Coulter (for J. Cunningham, 80).
Replacements: Mark Blair (for Longwell, 59), Eric Miller (for McWhirter, 59), Riaz Fredericks (for Howe, 66), Niall Malone (for Humphreys, 66), Simon Best (for Leslie, 71).
Replacements: Tony McWhirter (for Miller, 48), Riaz Fredericks (for Cunningham, 58), Mark Blair (for Longwell, 60), Richard Weir (for Clarke, 83).
Replacements: Richard Weir (for Clarke, 23), Tony McWhirter (for Miller, 55), Mark Blair (for Longwell, 50), Simon Best (for Leslie, 66) Riaz Fredericks (for Cunningham, 71).
Replacements: Paddy Johns (for Blair, 46), Eric Miller (for O'Cuinneagain, 52), L. Johnston (for Best, 63) Jan Cunningham (for Topping, 72) 1.
Replacements: Stephen McKinty (for Miller, 40), Gary Longwell (for Blair, 60), Niall Malone (for Humphreys, 67).
Replacements: Gary Leslie (for Irwin, 52), Allen Clarke (for Humphreys, 55), Stephen Bell (for Edwards, 63) 1.
Replacements: Mark Blair (for Longwell, 60), Shane Stewart (for Henderson, 63), Stephen Bell (for Free, 71), Derek Topping (for Ward, 74) 1.
Replacements: Derek Topping (for McWhirter, 40), Shane Stewart (for Henderson, 67), Stephen Bell (for Free, 75).
Replacements: Derek Topping (for Nelson, 59), Stephen Bell (for Free, 63), Shane Stewart (for J.
Replacements: Derek Topping (for McWhirter, 64), Mark Blair (for Johns, 71), Clem Boyd (for Best, 71), Stephen Bell (for Free, 76).
Replacements: Simon Best (for Boyd, 32), Paddy Johns (for Longwell, 40), Paul Shields (for Weir, 50), Derek Topping (for McWhirter, 62), Neil Doak (for Free, 67).
The 2001–02 IRFU Interprovincial Championship was a transitional season before the competition was superseded by the Celtic League.
The remaining Interprovincial fixtures were originally scheduled to take place in December 2001, but were postponed because IRFU director of fitness Dr. Liam Hennessy felt that the schedule, between the Celtic League, the Heineken Cup and the Autumn internationals, was too onerous and players needed a period of rest and recovery to prepare for the Six Nations.
Replacements: Mark Blair (for Johns, 44), Ryan Constable (for Bell, 56), Clem Boyd (for Best, 71), Tony McWhirter (for Ward, 71), Niall Malone (for Humphreys, 72), Kieran Campbell (for Doak, 78).