Campeonato Interprovincial IRFU

El Campeonato Interprovincial, a menudo abreviado como Interpros , se llevó a cabo como una competición independiente desde 1946-47 hasta 2000-01, ^{[ 1 ]} y los partidos de 2001-02 se cumplieron con los encuentros de la recién formada Liga Celta . ^{[ 2 ]} Durante un tiempo en la década de 1980, la IRFU dictaminó que los jugadores de la diáspora irlandesa debían jugar para Connacht, en un intento de fortalecer la más débil de las cuatro provincias. ^{[ 3 ]} Los Exiliados Irlandeses participaron durante cuatro años (1992-93 – 1995-96). ^{[ 1 ]} La presión de los partidos hizo que la competición cesara después de la edición de 2001.

En 2021, el United Rugby Championship introdujo los trofeos regionales, con las provincias irlandesas compitiendo por el URC Irish Shield . Inicialmente, el grupo incluía los resultados contra otros equipos no irlandeses, pero a partir de 2023, el URC anunció que los trofeos regionales de la competición se decidirían únicamente por los resultados entre los equipos de cada grupo. Con este cambio, el URC reintrodujo de facto una forma del Campeonato Interprovincial por primera vez desde 2002 (aunque con equipos profesionales, no representativos).

This season, the IRFU Interprovincial Championship was sponsored by Cara Computers, and for the first time included the Irish Exiles.^[141]

Munster beat Ulster in an Interpro for the first time since 1980.^[160]

The 1995 IRFU Interprovincial Championship was the first to be held since rugby union was declared open to professionalism. At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs.^[171] Many involved in the game were concerned that domestic clubs could not afford to pay players, who could be lost to professional teams in England.^[172] In September, the IRFU confirmed that, for this season, only senior international players would be paid,^[173] with a one-year moratorium on payment for club and provincial players.^[174] As the situation developed, match fees became available for Heineken Cup and Interprovincial matches.^[175]Leinster won the Interprovincial title for the first time in twelve years.^[176]

The 1996 Interprovincial Championship was sponsored by Guinness in a three-year deal worth £115,000, taking over from the previous sponsors, Smithwicks.^[191] The Irish Exiles were no longer able to compete as matches clashed with club games in England.^[192]

At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs. However, the provinces were now offering contracts and match fees for Heineken Cup and Interprovincial matches, although these contracts sometimes conflicted with players contracted to clubs in England.^[193]

The IRFU offered new contracts for provincial players for this season. Full-time players would receive a retainer of £25,000, plus a win bonus of £500 for Heineken Cup matches. Part-time players would be paid a retainer of £7,500, plus a match fee of £400 for Interprovincial matches and £800 for the Heineken Cup, and a win bonus of £450 for both competitions.^[203] Each province could have a maximum of 30 contracted players.^[204]

This season, the tournament adopted a new format, with each team playing each other home and away. The tournament points system was adopted from Super 12 and the Tri Nations, with four points for a win and two for a draw, a bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match, and a bonus point for losing by seven points or less.^[211] This led to an average of over four tries scored per match.^[212]

The tournament was strengthened by a drive by Ireland coach Warren Gatland to bring Irish players who had signed contracts with English clubs back to Ireland to play in the Interprovincial Championship and Heineken Cup.^[213] The provinces would have squads of 30 players, most of whom would be full-time professionals.^[214]

The title came down to a decider between Leinster and Munster at Donnybrook,^[215] with both teams level on points going into the final weekend. Munster took the title with a win, thanks to a man-of-the-match performance by Alan Quinlan.^[216]

Tony Ward, writing in the Irish Independent, selected the following as Team of the Championship:^[211]

1. Peter Clohessy (Munster), 2. Mark McDermott (Munster), 3. Angus McKeen (Leinster), 4. Mick Galwey (Munster), 5. Eddie Halvey (Munster), 6. Ian Dillon (Connacht), 7. Andy Ward (Ulster), 8. Alan Quinlan (Munster), 9. Conor McGuinness (Connacht), 10. David Humphreys (Ulster), 11. Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), 12. Pat Duignan (Connacht), 13. Jonathan Bell (Ulster), 14. John Lacey (Munster), 15. Brian Roche (Munster).

The 2001–02 IRFU Interprovincial Championship was a transitional season before the competition was superseded by the Celtic League. Pool matches between Irish provinces in the 2001–02 Celtic League counted towards the championship. The remaining Interprovincial fixtures were originally scheduled to take place in December 2001, but were postponed because IRFU director of fitness Dr. Liam Hennessy felt that the schedule, between the Celtic League, the Heineken Cup and the Autumn internationals, was too onerous and players needed a period of rest and recovery to prepare for the Six Nations.^[255] They took place in April and May 2002.^[256]