The 2024–25 All-Ireland League, known as the Energia All-Ireland League for sponsorship reasons, was the 33rd season of Irish Rugby's top level domestic competition. The League began on 20 September 2024 and finished with the League final at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on 27 April 2025.
Cork Constitution were the defending champions having won their 7th title by defeating defending champions Terenure College in the 2023-24 League Final. They reached the final again but were defeated by Clontarf who won their fourth A.I.L. title.
Ballyclare were competing in the League for the first time ever after gaining promotion to Division 2C by winning the Provincial League Championship final. Monkstown who lost that final, later gained promotion back to the League after a 21-year absence by winning the Provincial League Championship play-off against Bangor.
Format The League consisted of 5 divisions of 10 teams each playing a double round-robin competition using the standard Rugby union bonus points system. At the completion of the league phase the top 4 teams in Division 1A would qualify for the play-off semi-finals, with the two winners meeting in the final.
The 10th placed teams in Divisions 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B would be relegated to Divisions 1B, 2A, 2B and 2C respectively while the winners of Divisions 1B, 2A, 2B and 2C would be promoted up one division. The 9th placed team in Division 1A along with the 2nd to 4th placed teams in Division 1B would enter a play-off competition with the winner to play in Division 1A for 2025–26. This same play-off competition applied to the other divisions also.
The 10th placed team in Division 2C would be relegated from the A.I.L. to their respective Provincial qualifying league and be replaced by the winner of the All-Ireland Provincial League Championship. The 9th placed team in Division 2C would play the runner-up of the All-Ireland Provincial League Championship with the winner to play in Division 2C for 2025–26.
All-Ireland Provincial League Championship The All-Ireland Provincial League Championship was contested by the winners of the four provincial qualifying leagues in Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. They were drawn to play in two semi-finals at neutral venues with the winners meeting in the final, also at a neutral venue with the winner playing in Division 2C of the A.I.L. for 2025–26.
The runner-up played away against the 9th place team in Division 2C and the winner of this play-off would also play in Division 2C of the A.I.L. for 2025–26, with the loser returning to their relevant provincial league.
Team changes The following promotions and relegations occurred at the end of the 2023–24 season:
Promoted Relegated Division 1A — Dublin University, Shannon* Division 1B St Mary's College, Garryowen* Buccaneers Division 2A Nenagh Ormond Malone, UL Bohemians* Division 2B Instonians, Galway Corinthians* Belfast Harlequins, Dolphin* Division 2C Clogher Valley, Galwegians* Ballina, Bangor* A-I PLC Ballyclare, Monkstown* — * via play-offs
Division 1A Cork Constitution started their 33rd consecutive season in the top division of the All-Ireland League (the only club to be ever present in the top division of the league since its inception in 1990) as defending champions, but by the mid-season break were in mid-table outside the play-off places. Garryowen made a quick return to Division 1A after being relegated in 2022–23, but with just one win in nine games were bottom at Christmas in danger of returning to 1B. Their relegation to 1B was confirmed after Round 17 despite victory against Clontarf. St Mary's College returned to the top flight as Division 1B champions after a six-year absence and took over top spot by the mid-season interval from Ballynahinch who dropped to fourth after back-to-back defeats in December. Clontarf and Terenure completed the top four at Christmas. With one round remaining the semi-finalists were decided as Terenure, with 3 defeats in-a-row in March dropped out of the top four as Lansdowne's 3 victories in March ensured them a place in the play-offs alongside Clontarf, St. Mary's and Cork Con.
Teams Team Location Stadium Capacity Ballynahinch Ballynahinch Ballymacarn Park 1,000 City of Armagh Armagh Palace Grounds 1,000 Castle Avenue 3,200 Temple Hill 1,000 Dooradoyle 1,500 Aviva Stadium (Back Pitch) 1,000 Templeville Road 4,000 Lakelands Park 3,000 UCD Bowl 3,000 Tom Clifford Park 2,000
Final Table
Results
Division 1B After two seasons in Division 1A Shannon returned to Division 1B along with Dublin University who were automatically relegated and both sides found themselves in the bottom half of the table by Christmas with Shannon just 2 points ahead of bottom side Highfield. At the other end of the table Old Belvedere (1st) and Nenagh Ormond (2nd), playing at this level for the first time in their history, having come up from Division 2A as champions, were well clear of the chasing pack at the mid-season break, and Belvo's bonus point victory over Ormond in Round 15 secured the division title and promotion to the top flight. Despite a bonus point victory on the last day of the season, Shannon found themselves being relegated for the second season in-a-row.
Teams Team Location Stadium Capacity Blackrock College Dublin (Blackrock) Stradbrook Road 4,000 Dublin College Park 200 Highfield Woodleigh Park 4,000 Naas Naas Forenaughts 3,000 Nenagh Ormond Nenagh New Ormond Park 1,000 Anglesea Road 1,000 Old Wesley Dublin (Donnybrook) Donnybrook Stadium 7,000 Queen's University Belfast Dub Lane 1,000 Shannon Limerick Thomond Park 25,600 UCC Mardyke Arena 5,000
Final Table
Results
Division 2A Buccaneers returned to Division 2A after two seasons in 1B. By the mid-season break they looked set to be relegated again having lost all 9 of their matches and a home defeat to Greystones in a rescheduled Round 12 fixture on 22 February confirmed their drop to 2B for 2025–26. Instonians play in Division 2A following two successive promotions as champions after their return to the A.I.L. in 2022 and at the halfway point in the season were on course for another repeat as they were clear leaders at the top from second placed Galway Corinthians who, at the third attempt gained promotion to Division 2A via the play-offs. Instonians subsequently gained promotion after Round 16 with victory over Greystones.
Teams Team Location Stadium Capacity Ballymena Antrim Eaton Park 1,000 Banbridge Banbridge Rifle Park 1,000 Buccaneers Athlone Dubarry Park 10,000 Cashel Cashel Spafield 2,500 Galway Corinthians Corinthian Park 1,000 Greystones Greystones Dr Hickey Park 1,000 Instonians Belfast Shawsbridge Sports Complex 1,000 MU Barnhall Leixlip Parsonstown 1,000 Navan Navan Balreask Old 4,000 Old Crescent Rosbrien 4,000
Final Table
Results
Division 2B Malone find themselves in Division 2B following two successive relegations, while having survived a relegation play-off the previous season UL Bohemians failed to do so last season and also made the drop from Division 2A. A.I.L. debutants Clogher Valley won Division 2C gaining promotion to 2B and by the halfway point in the season were in the promotion play-off places. Promotion play-off winners Galwegians bounced straight back up after being relegated in 2022–23. Wanderers led the table at the Christmas break from Dungannon while at the other end, just a point separated bottom sides Sligo and Malahide and Sligo's victory over Malahide in Round 16 relegated the Lions. In Round 17 Wanderers' victory over Clogher Valley secured the title and promotion.
Teams Team Location Stadium Capacity Clogher Valley Fivemiletown The Cran 1,000 Dungannon Dungannon Stevenson Park 1,000 Galwegians Crowley Park 2,000 Malahide Malahide Estuary Road 1,000 Malone Belfast Gibson Park 1,000 Skerries Skerries Holmpatrick 1,000 Sligo Strandhill Hamilton Park 1,000 Rainey Magherafelt Hatrick Park 1,000 UL Bohemians Limerick (UL) UL4G1,000 Wanderers Dublin (Ballsbridge) Merrion Road 1,000
Final Table
* Malone deducted 1 point for a breach of the international player clearance process.
Results
Division 2C After two successive relegations Dolphin find themselves in Division 2C along with Belfast Harlequins who also make the drop from 2B. However at the halfway stage of the season both were in joint 2nd place behind clear leaders Midleton. Joining the division from the junior ranks are Ballyclare, who are making their debut season in the A.I.L., and Monkstown, returning after a 21-year absence and both were in mid-table at the Christmas break. With just 1 win each both Omagh Academicals and Tullamore were propping up the table at the mid-season break. A bonus point win away to Belfast Harlequins on the last day of the season saw Enniscorthy pip long time leaders Midleton for the title and automatic promotion to 2B, while a final day defeat for season strugglers Tullamore saw them relegated from the league.
Teams Team Location Stadium Capacity Ballyclare Ballyclare The Cloughan 1,000 Belfast Harlequins Belfast Deramore Park 1,000 Bruff Bruff Kilballyowen Park 2,000 Clonmel Clonmel Ard Gaoithe 4,000 Dolphin Musgrave Park 8,008 Enniscorthy Wexford Ross Road 1,000 Midleton Midleton Towns Park 400 Monkstown Sandymount Sydney Parade 1,000 Omagh Academicals Omagh Thomas Mellon Playing Fields 1,000 Tullamore Tullamore Spollanstown 1,000
Final Table
Results
Play-offs Division 1A Play-offs Semi-finals
All-Ireland League Final See below.
Division 1B Play-offs Semi-finals
City of Armagh relegated from Division 1A
Play-off Final
Nenagh Ormond promoted to Division 1A
Division 2A Play-offs Semi-finals
Play-off Final
Dublin University retain Division 1B status
Division 2B Play-offs Semi-finals
Play-off Final
Dungannon promoted to Division 2A, Navan relegated to Division 2B
Division 2C Play-offs Semi-finals
Play-off Final
Skerries retain Division 2B status
Provincial League Championship Semi-finals
Final
Bective Rangers promoted to A.I.L.
Play-off
Thomond promoted to A.I.L., Omagh Academicals relegated from A.I.L.
Final The All-Ireland League final took place on Sunday, 27 April 2025, at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. The match was broadcast live on TG4 television. Defending champions Cork Constitution played Clontarf, the 4th time the sides met in the Final, with Con having two victories to 'Tarf's one. Clontarf were victorious winning by a single point to claim their fourth League title.
All-Ireland League Final Source:
FB 15Tadhg BirdRW 14Andrew SmithOC 13Hugh CooneyIC 12Connor FahyLW 11Peter MaherFH 10Conor KellySH 9 Sam OwensLP 1 Charlie Ward HK 2 Dylan Donnellan(c)TP 3 Ben GriffinRL 4 Fionn GilbertLL 5 Jim Peters BF 6 Callum SmithOF 7 Aaron ColemanN8 8 John Vinson Substitutes:HK 16Declan AdamsonPR 17Conor Bateman FL 18Luke Brady SH 19Will ReillyWR 20Stephen RyanCE 21James ConroyFL 22Oran Walsh PR 23Alvin AmaniampongCoach: Andy Wood FB 15George Coomber RW 14Daniel Hurley OC 13Seán FrenchIC 12Niall KenneallyLW 11Matthew BowenFH 10James Taylor SH 9 Adam Maher LP 1 Mark DonnellyHK 2 Billy Scannell TP 3 Luke Masters RL 4 Seán Duffy LL 5 John FordeBF 6 Jack KelleherOF 7 Ronán O'SullivanN8 8 David Hyland(c)Substitutes:HK 16Danny Sheahan PR 17David Good PR 18Charlie Connolly LK 19Eoin Quilter FL 20Jacob Sheahan SH 21Louis Kahn CE 22Eoghan Smith WR 23Rob Jermyn Coach: Jonny Holland Player of the match: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf)
See also Bateman Cup Connacht Senior Cup Leinster Senior Cup Munster Senior Cup Ulster Senior Cup
References