The Colours Match - Cluiche na nDathannaSport Rugby Union FootballInaugural Match 13 December 1952Teams Involved University College DublinDublin UniversityInaugural Winner University College DublinCurrent Holder University College DublinCaptain Daniel BarronCurrent Edition 72ndMost Recent Match 12 February 2026Venue College Park, Trinity CollegeTrophy The Colours CupSeries University College Dublin: 42Dublin University: 26Drawn: 4Largest winning Margin UCD 50–20 DU (6 March 2008)Longest Winning Sequence UCD (10) [1997/98—2005/06]Most Captaincies Shane Moore, UCD (3) [1999/00—2001/02]Most Matches Played Brian Cawley, UCD (11) [2008/09—2018/2019]Bill Mulcahy, UCD (8) [1953/54—1960/61]Next Meeting 2025

The Colours Match () is an annual rugby union fixture between Trinity College Dublin (Dublin University Football Club) and University College Dublin (University College Dublin R.F.C.) played since 1952. Rugby matches between UCD RFC and DUFC predate the inauguration of "The Colours Match", going back to 1919.

Background Between 1919 and 1952 "friendly" matches took place annually between the clubs on a home and away basis. Their first meeting took place at Terenure on 18 October 1919, won by Trinity.GPS (Sarsfield) Hogan, The Dublin Intervarsity Saga, The 50th Anniversary Programme, UCD RFCJC Conroy, Colours History, the 1974 Colours Match Programme, UCD RFCPeter Clarke (2002) UCD RFC and Dublin University FC: Colours and all!, The Colours Match Programme 2002/03 There were also memorable encounters between UCD and TCD in the Leinster Senior Cup when the draw brought the sides together.

Following the Senior Cup win of UCD over DUFC in 1948 by a dropped goal to nil, the idea of a Colours match was discussed between Harry Thrift of Trinity and Sarsfield Hogan of UCD, who had served together on the International Rugby Board, on which basis each University club would award Colours for the season. Lengthy negotiations ensued and with the cooperation of the IRFU committee and of the Lansdowne and Wanderers RFCs a scheme for an annual Colours match was finally agreed.

The two Universities would play once a year in December. Each University would act as the host in turn and be responsible for the management of the match and for the entertainment. The host University, after consultation with the other side, would invite the referee for the match. A formal teams' dinner would be held after the match.

It was envisaged that the match would be played on a Saturday. Increasing numbers of representative matches and the limited number of Saturdays on which Lansdowne Road was available led to pressure to change the match from Saturdays to a mid-week date.

History The Colours Match was inaugurated on 13 December 1952 at Lansdowne Road with the first title taken by UCDPeter Clarke & Susan Clarke: Down Through The Years UCD RFC Trinity gained their first win in 1954 and the first drawn match came in 1955. The first 26 matches and the 35th to 38th matches were held at Lansdowne Road stadium in Dublin. The 27th to 33rd fixtures and the 39th through 60th matches were played at Donnybrook Rugby Ground, the traditional home of the Leinster rugby union team. The 61st 63rd, 65th and 67th encounters took place at the UCD Bowl, Belfield, the 62nd match at Donnybrook Rugby Ground and the 64th, 66th and 68th editions in College Park Rugby Ground, Trinity College.

Trophy A trophy, The Colours Cup, presented to the winner of the annual Colours Match, was inaugurated in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee of the first Colours Match in December 1962. It was first presented to the winners of the 51st Colours Match, UCD, in November 2002. The cup is in the form of a claret jug.

University College are the current holders beating Trinity College by 19 points to 13 points on 12 February 2026 at College Park, Trinity College Dublin.

Other editions Colours Matches are also played between Trinity and UCD in women's rugby union and other sports, such as association football, Gaelic football, hurling, swimming, boxing, water polo, field hockey, golf, sailing, tennis, and fencing.

Famous participants Dick Spring Politician Trinity College Peter Sutherland Chairman BP University College Brian O'Driscoll Ireland Captain University College Jamie Heaslip Ireland Captain Trinity College Paddy Johns Ireland Captain Trinity College

Results 1950s Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date Comment 1 1952/53Colours Rugby match a big success, Irish Times, 15 December 1952, page 2; Forward mastery gave U.C.D. good win, Sunday Independent, 14 December 1952, page 10 University College Dublin 13 Tim O'Toole Dublin University 6 Robin Roe* Lansdowne Road Sat 13 December 1952 2 1953/54U.C.D. won thrilling "Colours" game, Tector inspired vain Trinity rally, Sunday Independent, 6 December 1953, page 10; Grand rugby by the Universities, Irish Times, 7 December 1953, page 2 University College Dublin 14 Alec Spain Dublin University 12 Bill Tector Lansdowne Road Sat 5 December 1953 3 1954/55U.C.D. fell for old trick, Trinity won 11-6, Sunday Independent, 5 December 1954, page 17; Trinity make better use of wind, Irish Times, 6 December 1954, page 2 Dublin University 11 Jim Clinch University College Dublin 6 Harry Crowe Lansdowne Road Sat 4 December 1954 4 1955/56Plenty to cheer about in Colours game, Sunday Independent, 4 December 1955, page 17 University College Dublin 6 Billy O'Gorman Dublin University 6 Paddy Moss* Lansdowne Road Sat 3 December 1955 Match drawn 5 1956/57Wingers won Colours game, Sunday Independent, 2 December 1956, page 17; U.C.D. beat Trinity at Lansdowne Road: Injury to P. Sang spoils good game, Irish Times, 3 December 1956, page 2 University College Dublin 11 Bill Mulcahy Dublin University 3 Graham Taylor Lansdowne Road Sat 1 December 1956 6 1957/58Penalty goal won for U.C.D., Irish Independent, 9 December 1957, page 12; U.C.D. survived in a fine finish, Irish Times, 7 December 1958, page 2 University College Dublin 3 Niall Brophy Dublin University 0 Peter Dowse* Lansdowne Road Sat 7 December 1957 7 1958/59"Play up, Trinity" — and they did, Sunday Independent, 7 December 1958, page 8; Vigorous rugby by students, Irish Times,8 December 1958, page 2 Dublin University 6 Tony Reid-Smith University College Dublin 0 Brian Wain Lansdowne Road Sat 6 December 1958 8 1959/60Fireworks on and off as Trinity win, Sunday Independent, 6 December 1959, page 17; Forwards paved way for Trinity win, Irish Times, 7 December 1959, page 2 Dublin University 6 Tony Reid-Smith University College Dublin 3 Henry Wall Lansdowne Road Sat 5 December 1959

Acting Captain

1960s Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date 9 1960/61U.C.D. forwards paved way, Sunday Independent, 4 December 1960, page 13; U.C.D. impress in Colours match, Irish Times, 5 December 1960, page 2 University College Dublin 10 Henry Wall Dublin University 3 Ian Hill Lansdowne Road Sat 3 December 1960 10 1961/62U.C.D. survive great rally in Colours, Sunday Independent, 3 December 1961, page 15; Trinity needed place kicker, Irish Times, 4 December 1961, page 4 University College Dublin 3 Gerry Tormey Dublin University 0 Caleb Powell Lansdowne Road Sat 2 December 1961 11 1962/63U.C.D. colours fly high, Sunday Independent, 25 November 1962, page 13; Colors rugby: Murray paved way to U.C.D.'s victory, Irish Times, 26 November 1962, page 3 University College Dublin 12 Jimmy Kelly Dublin University 3 Martin Rees Lansdowne Road Sat 24 November 1962 12 1963/64Trinity get there in a thriller - Read drops a picture goal - Fine U.C.D. rally just failed, Sunday Independent, 15 December 1963, page 14; Rugby Colours match: U.C.D. overcome by Trinity fire, Irish Times, 16 December 1963, page 3 Dublin University 8 Bob Read University College Dublin 3 Aidan Brady* Lansdowne Road Sat 14 December 1963 13 1964/65Murray the star of convincing U.C.D. victory, Sunday Independent, 29 November 1964, page 15; Rugby Colours game: U.C.D. hard-pressed to beat Trinity, Irish Times, 30 November 1964, page 3 University College Dublin 11 Aidan Brady Dublin University 3 Aubrey Bourke Lansdowne Road Sat 28 November 1964 14 1965/66U.C.D.'s biggest win — 'Colours' win lacked colour, Sunday Independent, 28 November 1965, page 15; Rugby Colours match: Half-backs proved U.C.D.'s aces, Irish Times, 29 November 1965, page 3 University College Dublin 13 John Murray Dublin University 0 Dave Buchanan* Lansdowne Road Sat 27 November 1965 15 1966/67Honours for U.C.D. - Hickie's scores were decisive in 'Colours' game - Bresnihan in top form at centre, Irish Independent, 1 December 1966, page 12; Rugby Colours match: U.C.D. prove too well equipped for Trinity, Irish Times, 1 December 1966, page 3 University College Dublin 6 Al Moroney Dublin University 0 Dave Buchanan Lansdowne Road Wed 30 November 1966 16 1967/68Trinity win thrilling 'Colours' match, Irish Independent, 30 November 1967, page 14; Rugby Colours match: Trinity beat U.C.D. in outstanding game - McCombe's drop-kick a winner, Irish Times, 30 November 1967, page 3 Dublin University 12 Gerry Murphy University College Dublin 11 John O'Hagan Lansdowne Road Wed 29 November 1967 17 1968/69Eight point McCombe is the Trinity hero - 'Music loving' referee spoils Colours game, Irish Independent, 5 December 1968, page 12; McCombe again the match-winner for Trinity, Irish Times,5 December 1968, page 4 Dublin University 8 Gerry Murphy University College Dublin 6 Peter Sutherland Lansdowne Road Wed 4 December 1968 18 1969/70Colours match: Trinity thwarted in treble bid, Irish Independent, 4 December 1969, page 18; U.C.D. masters of vigorous encounter, Irish Times, 4 December 1969, page 3 University College Dublin 6 Derek Scally Dublin University 3 Chris Hawkesworth* Lansdowne Road Wed 3 December 1969

Acting Captain

1970s