Its value was marred in the amateur era by periods when the elite clubs like North, Instonians and Collegians withdrew from the league to allow them to fulfil more friendly fixtures - particularly against English and Welsh opposition.
This attitude from some of the senior clubs even lead to the scrapping of the league in 1930, and it was not re-established until after World War II.
However, with the expansion of the number of Senior Clubs in 1980, two sections were formed and the top two teams qualified for semi-finals.
To avoid the fixture congestion caused by playing in two competitions, Ulster's ten All-Ireland League clubs were divided into two sections, based on last season's league standings - Ballynahinch, Armagh, Ballymena, City of Derry and Malone in Section 1, and Queen's University, Belfast Harlequins, Rainey Old Boys, Banbridge and Dungannon in Section 2 - with each team playing just four matches.
[2] For the 2016-17 season it was revamped again as the SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership, sponsored by System Operator for Northern Ireland.