The format was the same as the Premiership competition used for First Division clubs, with the teams finishing in the top eight in the league competing in an end-of-season knockout tournament.

The competition returned to the previous format when the league reverted to two divisions in the 1993–94 season.

Following the switch to summer rugby, a shortened four-team format was used for the 1996 competition.

In 1998, the competition was replaced by a play-off system which would determine promotion to the Super League.

The Tom Bergin Trophy continued to be used as the Grand Final's man of the match award.