Energia Bateman Cup
The Bateman Cup was presented to the IRFU by Dr. Godfrey Bateman, a member of a well-known west Cork family, in memory of his sons Reginald and Arthur who were killed during the First World War.
Reginald and Arthur were both keen rugby players and both featured in a newspaper record of a Trinity First Year Medicals ‘A’ team against a Wanderers 3rd ‘B’ team in November 1910 at Lansdowne Road.
The inscription on the cup reads:
Presented by Godfrey Bateman to the Irish Rugby Football Union in ever-fresh and loving memory of his darling sons:
Major Reginald John Godfrey Bateman, Canadian Infantry, killed in action 3 September, 1918,
Captain Arthur Cyril Bateman, who, on 28 March 1918 gave his life for his wounded Camerons.
The competition was played annually between the four provincial cup winners on the last weekend of the season, with the exception of 1933 and 1934 when a number of the provincial cup campaigns had not been completed on time.
The Bateman Cup semi-finals used to be played as a double header at Lansdowne Road, with the final taking place at the same venue the very next day – ‘a real test of stamina’ according to a newspaper article from the 1920s. The tournament was finally terminated at the outbreak of the Second World War owing to the restriction on travel. This footage from Pathé news shows Instonians winning the cup in 1927.
Garryowen Football Club ran a once-off Bateman Cup style competition in the spring of 1975, this in conjunction with the IRFU Centenary celebrations, the laurels eventually resting with St. Mary’s College.
In 2005/06 an All-Ireland Cup was introduced within the All-Ireland League structure and in 2010/11 the structure was changed to the original Bateman Cup structure with the four Provincial Cup winners taking part.
1922 – Lansdowne 6 Cork Constitution 5
1923 – Bective Rangers 14 Instonians 6
1924 – Queen’s University 29 UCD 11
1925 – Bective Rangers 6 Garryowen 3
1926 – Dublin University 13 Garryowen 0
1927 – Instonians 16 Lansdowne 8
1928 – Young Munster 6 Lansdowne 3
1929 – Lansdowne 32 Galwegians 11
1930 – Lansdowne 19 North of Ireland FC 12
1931 – Lansdowne 16 Belfast Collegians 5
1932 – Queen’s University 19 Cork Constitution 0
1933 – Suspended
1934 – Suspended
1935 – North of Ireland FC 14 Bective Rangers 0
1936 – UCC 17 UGC 0
1937 – Queen’s University 8 UCC 0
1938 – UCD 16 Young Munster 6
1939 – Blackrock College 4 North of Ireland FC 3
1975 – St. Mary’s College 9 Galway Corinthians 9 (St. Mary’s won on try count)
2005–06 Cork Constitution 37–12 St Mary’s College
2006–07 Garryowen 20–7 Belfast Harlequins
2007–08 Shannon 12–9 Blackrock College
2008–09 Ballynahinch 17–6 Cork Constitution
2009–10 Cork Constitution 15–11 Garryowen
The Bateman Cup is re-introduced as the trophy to be awarded to the All-Ireland Cup winners.
2011 – Bruff 24 Dungannon 18 – Match Report
2012 – Garryowen 24 Ballymena 6 – Match Report
2013 – Cork Constitution 24 St. Mary’s College 19 – Match Report / Post-Match Video
2014 – Cork Constitution 19 UCD 6 – Match Report
2015 – Cork Constitution 24 Clontarf 9 – Match Report
2016 – Cork Constitution 38 Galwegians 19 – Match Report
2017 – Cork Constitution 18 Old Belvedere 13 – Match Report
2018 – Lansdowne 32 Cork Constitution 12 – Match Report /Highlights
2019 – Garryowen 45 City Of Armagh 21 – Match Report / Links
2020 – Lansdowne & Cork Constitution declared joint winners due to Covid-19 outbreak and the cancellation of all fixtures
2021 – Not Played Due To COVID-19 Pandemic
2022 – Lansdowne 46 Young Munster 13 – Match Report / Highlights
2023 – Terenure College 71 Buccaneer 13 – Match Report / ReplayÂ
2024 – Terenure College 22 – Young Munster 15 – Match report & Video
