The 2025–26 All-Ireland League, known as the Energia All-Ireland League for sponsorship reasons, was the 34th season of Irish Rugby's top level domestic competition. The League began on 27 September 2025 and finished with the League final at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on 26 April 2026.
Clontarf were the defending champions having won their 4th title by defeating reigning champions Cork Constitution in the 2024–25 League Final. They reached the Final again but were beaten by St Mary's College who won their 3rd title. This was the fourth year in-a-row that the reigning champions lost the subsequent final.
Bective Rangers (after a 7-year absence) and Thomond (after a 6-year absence) made a return to the A.I.L. having been promoted from the Junior Provincial leagues replacing Tullamore and Omagh Academicals who were relegated.
Having played in the league since the club was founded in 1999, Belfast Harlequins were relegated from the league on the last day of the season. They will be replaced by Enniskillen who will make their league debut next season.
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 qualified for the play-off semi-finals, with the two winners meeting in the final.
Initially, the 10th placed teams in Divisions 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B were to be relegated to Divisions 1B, 2A, 2B and 2C respectively while the winners of Divisions 1B, 2A, 2B and 2C were to 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 2026–27. This same play-off competition was to apply to the other divisions also. However, in October the IRFU announced a structural change to the league for the 2026–27 season whereby Divisions 2B and 2C would be combined and then split along geographical lines creating two new divisions, 2B North (2BN) and 2B South (2BS). This meant there would be no promotion or relegation between divisions 2B and 2C this season.
The 10th placed team in Division 2C were to 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 were to play the runner-up of the All-Ireland Provincial League Championship with the winner to play in Division 2B for 2026–27.
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 played in two semi-finals with the winners meeting in the final, with all matches played at neutral venues. The winner will play in Division 2B of the A.I.L. for 2026–27. The runners-up were to play away against the 9th place team in Division 2C and the winner of this play-off will also play in Division 2B of the A.I.L. for 2026–27.
Team changes The following promotions and relegations occurred at the end of the 2024–25 season:
Promoted Relegated Division 1A — Garryowen, City of Armagh* Division 1B Old Belvedere, Nenagh Ormond* Shannon Division 2A Instonians Buccaneers, Navan* Division 2B Wanderers, Dungannon* Malahide Division 2C Enniscorthy Tullamore, Omagh Academicals* A-I PLC Bective Rangers, Thomond* — * via play-offs
Division 1A Clontarf began their 13th consecutive season in the top division as reigning champions while last season's runners-up, Cork Constitution continued their ever presence in the league's topflight. Old Belvedere were back in Division 1A after 6 seasons while Nenagh Ormond became the first County Tipperary club to play in the league's top division. Their stay in Division 1A was short lived as they were relegated losing all 18 matches. For the first time since play-offs were introduced to decide the league champions, all four semi-finalists came from the same province (Leinster).
Teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Ballynahinch Ballynahinch Ballymacarn Park 1,000 Castle Avenue 3,200 Temple Hill 1,000 Aviva Stadium (Back Pitch) 1,000 Nenagh Ormond Nenagh New Ormond Park 1,000 Ollie Campbell Park 1,000 Templeville Road 4,000 Lakelands Park 3,000 UCD Bowl 3,000 Tom Clifford Park 1,000
Final table
Results
Division 1B Garryowen were back in Division 1B as they continued to yo-yo between the league's top two divisions. Also making the drop from Division 1A were City of Armagh after just 2 seasons in the topflight. Instonians played at this level for the first time since 2009 as they continued their remarkable run of four consecutive promotions last season. Old Wesley won the division and with it promotion to the top division for the first time in almost 30 years. After 3 seasons in 1B, Queen's were relegated back to Division 2A.
Teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Blackrock College Dublin (Blackrock) Stradbrook Road 4,000 City of Armagh Armagh Palace Grounds 1,000 Dublin College Park 200 Dooradoyle 1,500 Highfield Woodleigh Park 4,000 Instonians Belfast Shawsbridge Sports Complex 1,000 Naas Naas Forenaughts 3,000 Old Wesley Dublin (Donnybrook) Donnybrook Stadium 7,000 Queen's University Belfast Dub Lane 1,000 UCC Mardyke Arena 5,000
Final table
Results
Division 2A After two successive relegations Shannon played in the third tier of the A.I.L. for the first time in their history. Promoted up from Division 2B were Dungannon who returned to this level for the first time since the league was restructured 10 years ago, while Wanderers played at their highest level since returning to the league in 2014. MU Barnhall won the division with 16 points to spare and will now play in the 2nd tier of the A.I.L. for the first time in their history. With just a single victory Banbridge finished bottom and were relegated along with Old Crescent who lost their play-off match to Sligo.
Teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Ballymena Antrim Eaton Park 1,000 Banbridge Banbridge Rifle Park 1,000 Cashel Cashel Spafield 2,500 Dungannon Dungannon Stevenson Park 1,000 Galway Corinthians Corinthian Park 1,000 Greystones Greystones Dr Hickey Park 1,000 MU Barnhall Leixlip Parsonstown 1,000 Old Crescent Rosbrien 4,000 Shannon Limerick Thomond Park 25,100 Wanderers Dublin (Ballsbridge) Merrion Road 1,000
Final table
Results
Division 2B Back-to-back relegations saw Buccaneers drop to 2B along with Navan who lost out in a play-off to Dungannon. After 2 seasons in the bottom division Enniscorthy returned to 2B. Having lost out on promotion via the play-offs the previous season Galwegians won the division and automatic promotion. After being relegated via the play-offs two seasons previously UL Bohemians won promotion back to Division 2A in the same manner.
Teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Buccaneers Athlone Dubarry Park 10,000 Clogher Valley Fivemiletown The Cran 1,000 Enniscorthy Enniscorthy Alcast Park 1,000 Galwegians Crowley Park 2,000 Malone Belfast Gibson Park 1,000 Navan Navan Balreask Old 4,000 Rainey Magherafelt Hatrick Park 1,000 Skerries Skerries Holmpatrick 1,000 Sligo Strandhill Hamilton Park 1,000 UL Bohemians Limerick (UL) UL4G1,000
Final table
Results
Division 2C After 4 seasons in 2B Malahide returned to the bottom division while Bective Rangers and Thomond returned to the A.I.L. after 7 and 6 years respectively in the Junior leagues. Clonmel finished top of the table and won the divisional title with a play-off Final win over Bective Rangers. Having been ever present in the league since the club was founded in 1999, Belfast Harlequins were relegated on the last day of the season on points difference.
Teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity Ballyclare Ballyclare The Cloughan 1,000 Bective Rangers Dublin (Donnybrook) Donnybrook Stadium 6,000 Belfast Harlequins Belfast Deramore Park 1,000 Bruff Bruff Kilballyowen Park 2,000 Clonmel Clonmel Ard Gaoithe 4,000 Dolphin Musgrave Park 8,008 Malahide Malahide Estuary Road 1,000 Midleton Midleton Towns Park 400 Monkstown Dublin (Sandymount) Sydney Parade 1,000 Thomond Limerick (Moyross) Liam Fitzgerald Park 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
Play-off Final
UCD retain Division 1A status
Division 2A Play-offs Semi-finals
Play-off Final
* Match abandoned after 60mins due to serious injury with the score at 31-12 to UCC. The IRFU National Competitions Committee subsequently determined that the score of the match at the time of the abandonment would stand. This was accepted by both clubs. UCC therefore retain their Division 1B status.
Division 2B Play-offs Semi-finals
Old Crescent relegated to Division 2B
Play-off Final
UL Bohemians promoted to Division 2A
Division 2C Play-offs Semi-finals
Play-off Final
Provincial League Championship Semi-finals
Final
Enniskillen promoted to All-Ireland League
Play-off
Malahide retain All-Ireland League status
Final The All-Ireland League final took place on Sunday, 26 April 2026, at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. St Mary's College played in the Final for the first time in 16 years. Their opponents were reigning Champions Clontarf, who appeared in their 10th final out of the last 12 seasons. The match was broadcast live on TG4 television. St Mary's claimed their 3rd title with a 46-31 victory in what was the highest scoring A.I.L. final in history.
All-Ireland League Final
FB 15 Ruairi ShieldsRW 14 Aaron O'Sullivan OC 13 Myles CareyIC 12 Mick O'GaraLW 11 Leandro Ramirez FH 10 Conor Dean (c)SH 9 Rob GilsenanLP 1 Tom O'Reilly HK 2 Jack Nelson Murray TP 3 Mick McCormick RL 4 Greg JonesLL 5 Daniel Leane BF 6 Joch GimblettOF 7 Ronan Watters N8 8 Dan Goggin Substitutes:HK 16 Richie Bergin PR 17 Oisin Michel PR 18 Andrew Sparrow LK 19 Conor Pierce BR 20 Ethan BaxterBR 21 Finn Burke CR 22 Mark Fogarty WR 23 Steven Kilgallen Coach: Mark McHugh FB 15 Tadhg ByrdRW 14 Dylan O'Grady OC 13 Hugh CooneyIC 12 Daniel Hawkshaw LW 11 Alex O'Grady FH 10 Conor Kelly SH 9 Sam Owens LP 1 Ivan Soroka HK 2 Dylan Donnellan (c)TP 3 Charlie Ward RL 4 Fionn GilbertLL 5 Jim PetersBF 6 Paul Deeny OF 7 Aaron Coleman N8 8 Josh CoghlanSubstitutes:HK 16 Declan Adamson PR 17 Alvin Amaniampong BR 18 Richie Whelan WR 19 Michael Moloney WR 20 Dan Magner CR 21 Conor Gibney LK 22 Darragh DoylePR 23 Conor Bateman Coach: Andy Wood
Player of the match: Myles Carey
See also Bateman Cup Connacht Senior League Leinster Senior League Munster Senior League Ulster Senior League
References