Division One to have 20 sides from 2011

RUGBY NEWS:THE IRFU has announced a restructuring of the All-Ireland League that will come into effect for start of the 2011-2012 season. The decision to alter the existing structure follows a consultation process that included vested interests like the provincial branches, the clubs, the All-Ireland League Senior Clubs Association, coaches, players and referees.

A majority favoured the retention of an All-Ireland League structure rather than moving to provincial or regionalised competitive fare.

The new look leagues will see an increase in senior clubs from 48 to 52, rolling substitutions (on a trial basis), new regulations involving the participation of contracted players and confirmation that the new format would stay in place until the 2016-2017 season.

The new All-Ireland League will herald an increase in the number of teams in divisions 1A and 1B from eight to 10, with matches played on a home and away basis.

Promotion and relegation between the two divisions would be based on one automatic place and one decided by a play-off.

The existing divisions two and three will be redefined as Division 2A and 2B and will consist of 16 clubs playing 15 matches. There would be two automatic promotions spots and another decided by a play-off.

The current provincial qualification process would continue into the new tournament structure with promotion and relegation to 2B. Each of the provincial champions next season will be promoted to senior rugby to ensure a 52-club league structure.

The IRFU has moved to do away with the semi-final and final play-offs and instead the club that finishes at the top of each divisional table will be deemed the league champions, with the 1A kingpins earning the right to call themselves the All-Ireland League champions: it’s a return to an earlier format.

In order to facilitate the 2011-2012 changeover timeframe several promotion and relegation parameters for next season have been tweaked. The top two clubs in Division 1B will be promoted to Division 1A (to give a 10-team league). There will be a play-off between the bottom club in Division 1A and the third-placed club in Division 1B.

The top four clubs in Division 2 will be promoted to Division 1B (to give a 10-team league) with a play-off between the bottom club in Division 1B and fifth in the Division 2 table.

The top four clubs in Division 3 will go up to the new Division 2A with a play-off between the bottom club in Division 2 and fifth club in Division 3. There will be no relegation from the latter division.

The union has also addressed clubs’ use of contracted players. The new regulations will decree that contracted players are permitted in Division 1A and 1B clubs with the number in a match-day squad reduced from three to two; one of whom only may be a forward.

Fully contracted foreign players can not play in the league as the IRFU has adjudged “the role of the league is to develop indigenous players, not to develop overseas players”. Contracted development and academy players will be allowed play in all divisions of the league without any restrictions.

New All Ireland Structure

• Division One will consist of two sections of 10 teams, each playing home and away (known as 1A 1B). Promotion and relegation between 1A and 1B would be one automatic and one by play-off.
• Division Two consists of two sections (2A 2B) of 16 teams, each playing 15
• games. Promotion and relegation between 2A and 2B would be two automatic and one by play-off.
• Promotion and relegation between Division 1B and 2A will be automatic – two up and two down.
• The present qualifying league structure (provincial junior league winner's round-robin competition)
• would be maintained, including the promotion and relegation system to 2B.
• The team which finishes top of their respective division will be deemed to be the divisional league champions, and the winners of Division 1A will be deemed the All-Ireland League champions. (Consideration may be given to playoffs in Division 1A to be included in the future).
• The number of senior clubs has been increased by four from 48 to 52. This will mean that each of the provincial champions from next season will automatically gain senior club status.