History of rugby union matches between Leinster and Ulster

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Leinster versus Ulster is the oldest fixture in Irish rugby, with the first ever interprovincial match taking place between the sides in 1875. [1] As such, a healthy rivalry has developed between the two provincial rivals. [2]

Contents

Both provinces combined to provide the squad for the Irish international representative side from the first international match in 1875 until the IRFU was formally founded in 1879, consisting of the formal founding of the Leinster and Ulster branches and the addition of a third provincial side, the Munster branch. Finally a Connacht branch was added in 1885 to complete representation for all four provinces of Ireland.

The Interprovincial Championship did not formally begin until the 1946–47 season. Since then, Leinster and Ulster have played in many high profile games, including League and European Cup finals, with Leinster getting the upper hand on the big occasions thus far.

Overall Summary of Games Since 1946

DetailsPlayedWon by LeinsterWon by UlsterDrawn
Leinster Home5943151
Ulster Home5224235
Neutral Venue1100
Overall11268386

Statistics

Biggest wins

Leinster: 40–7 (33 points, 5 January 2019), 38–7 (31 points, 2017/18), 9–39 (30 points, 1980/81)

Ulster: 30–6 (24 points, 2015/16), 28-6 (22 points, 2003/04), 14–34 (10 points, 1998/99)

Highest scoring match

Leinster 54 - Ulster 42 (96 points, 20 December 2019)

Lowest scoring match

Leinster 0 - Ulster 0 (0 points, 1947/48)

Most consecutive wins

Leinster: 9 (1975/76 - 1983/84), 7 (2009/10 - 2011/12), 6 (2019/2020 - 2021/2022)

Ulster: 9 (1984/85 - 1992/93), 5 (1966/67 - 1970/71), 3 (1955/56 - 1957/58)

Highest attendance

81,774 (European Cup Final, Twickenham Stadium, May 2012)

Results

SeasonHomeAwayWinnerNote(s)
1946/47Ulster 16Leinster 8Ulster (1)
1947/48Leinster 0Ulster 0Draw (1)
1948/49Ulster 0Leinster 8Leinster (1)
1949/50Leinster 8Ulster 0Leinster (2)
1950/51Ulster 10Leinster 3Ulster (2)
1951/52Leinster 14Ulster 17Ulster (3)
1952/53Ulster 3Leinster 5Leinster (3)
1953/54Leinster 0Ulster 3Ulster (4)
1954/55Ulster 3Leinster 5Leinster (4)
1955/56Leinster 6Ulster 21Ulster (5)
1956/57Ulster 17Leinster 8Ulster (6)
1957/58Leinster 13Ulster 24Ulster (7)
1958/59Ulster 12Leinster 16Leinster (5)
1959/60Leinster 16Ulster 6Leinster (6)
1960/61Ulster 9Leinster 9Draw (2)
1961/62Leinster 8Ulster 3Leinster (7)
1962/63Ulster 11Leinster 8Ulster (8)
1963/64Leinster 12Ulster 8Leinster (8)
1964/65Ulster 8Leinster 8Draw (3)
1965/66Leinster 8Ulster 6Leinster (9)
1966/67Ulster 8Leinster 6Ulster (9)
1967/68Leinster 5Ulster 9Ulster (10)
1968/69Ulster 14Leinster 8Ulster (11)
1969/70Leinster 3Ulster 8Ulster (12)
1970/71Ulster 6Leinster 3Ulster (13)
1971/72Leinster 12Ulster 10Leinster (10)
1972/73Ulster 6Leinster 11Leinster (11)
1973/74Leinster 20Ulster 13Leinster (12)
1974/75Ulster 22Leinster 9Ulster (14)
1975/76Leinster 16Ulster 9Leinster (13)
1976/77Ulster 6Leinster 12Leinster (14)
1977/78Leinster 29Ulster 18Leinster (15)
1978/79Ulster 3Leinster 9Leinster (16)
1979/80Leinster 18Ulster 12Leinster (17)
1980/81Ulster 9Leinster 39Leinster (18)
1981/82Leinster 19Ulster 6Leinster (19)
1982/83Ulster 9Leinster 15Leinster (20)
1983/84Leinster 20Ulster 16Leinster (21)
1984/85Ulster 16Leinster 3Ulster (15)
1985/86Leinster 13Ulster 19Ulster (16)
1986/87Ulster 14Leinster 12Ulster (17)
1987/88Leinster 22Ulster 29Ulster (18)
1988/89Ulster 18Leinster 17Ulster (19)
1989/90Leinster 6Ulster 14Ulster (20)
1990/91Ulster 13Leinster 6Ulster (21)
1991/92Leinster 21Ulster 22Ulster (22)
1992/93Ulster 12Leinster 8Ulster (23)
1993/94Leinster 25Ulster 0Leinster (22)
1994/95Ulster 6Leinster 12Leinster (23)
1995/96Leinster 31Ulster 3Leinster (24)
1996/97Ulster 25Leinster 35Leinster (25)
1997/98Leinster 26Ulster 25Leinster (26)
1998/99Leinster 14Ulster 34Ulster (24)
1998/99Ulster 11Leinster 35Leinster (27)
1999/00Leinster 15Ulster 26Ulster (25)
1999/00Ulster 22Leinster 23Leinster (28)
2000/01Leinster 19Ulster 6Leinster (29)
2000/01Ulster 26Leinster 13Ulster (26)
2001/02Leinster 31Ulster 9Leinster (30)
2002/03N/AN/AN/ANo Fixture
2003/04Ulster 23Leinster 23Draw (4)
2003/04Leinster 32Ulster 30Leinster (31)
2003/04Ulster 28Leinster 6Ulster (27)
2004/05Ulster 15Leinster 26Leinster (32)
2004/05Leinster 9Ulster 8Leinster (33)
2005/06Leinster 30Ulster 23Leinster (34)
2005/06Ulster 19Leinster 24Leinster (35)
2006/07Ulster 6Leinster 6Draw (5)
2006/07Leinster 20Ulster 12Leinster (36)
2007/08Ulster 16Leinster 16Draw (6)
2007/08Leinster 29Ulster 0Leinster (37)
2008/09Ulster 13Leinster 21Leinster (38)
2008/09Leinster 32Ulster 6Leinster (39)
2009/10Ulster 16Leinster 14Ulster (28)
2009/10Leinster 15Ulster 3Leinster (40)
2010/11Ulster 13Leinster 30Leinster (41)
2010/11Leinster 34Ulster 26Leinster (42)
2010/11Leinster 18Ulster 3Leinster (43)
2011/12Leinster 42Ulster 13Leinster (44)
2011/12Ulster 8Leinster 16Leinster (45)
2011/12Leinster 42Ulster 14Leinster (46) European Cup Final

Neutral Venue (Twickenham Stadium)

Highest Attendance (81,774)

2012/13Ulster 27Leinster 19Ulster (29)
2012/13Leinster 18Ulster 22Ulster (30)
2012/13Ulster 18Leinster 24Leinster (47)
2013/14Leinster 19Ulster 6Leinster (48)
2013/14Ulster 20Leinster 22Leinster (49)
2013/14Leinster 13Ulster 9Leinster (50)
2014/15Leinster 24Ulster 11Leinster (51)
2014/15Ulster 26Leinster 10Ulster (31)
2015/16Leinster 8Ulster 3Leinster (52)
2015/16Ulster 30Leinster 6Ulster (32)
2015/16Leinster 30Ulster 18Leinster (53)
2016/17Leinster 22Ulster 7Leinster (54)
2016/17Ulster 17Leinster 13Ulster (33)
2017/18Ulster 10Leinster 25Leinster (55)
2017/18Leinster 38Ulster 7Leinster (56)
2018/19Leinster 40Ulster 7Leinster (57)
2018/19Leinster 21Ulster 18Leinster (58) European Cup Quarter-Final
2018/19Ulster 14Leinster 13Ulster (34)
2019/20Leinster 54Ulster 42Leinster (59)
2019/20Ulster 10Leinster 28Leinster (60)Ulster home match played at the Aviva stadium due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019/20Leinster 27Ulster 5Leinster (61) 2020 Pro14 Grand Final
2020/21Leinster 24Ulster 12Leinster (62)
2020/21Ulster 19Leinster 38Leinster (63)
2020/21Leinster 21Ulster 17Leinster (64) Rainbow Cup fixture
2021/22Leinster 10Ulster 20Ulster (35)
2021/22Ulster 18Leinster 13Ulster (36) [3]
2022/23Ulster 13Leinster 20Leinster (65) [4]
2022/23Leinster 38Ulster 29Leinster (66) [5]
2022/23Leinster 30Ulster 15Leinster (67)Champions Cup round of 16 [6]
2023/24Leinster 21Ulster 22Ulster (37) [7]
2023/24Ulster 23Leinster 21Ulster (38) [8]
2023/24Leinster 43Ulster 20Leinster (68)United Rugby Championship quarter-final [9]

See also

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References

  1. Archived Team History IRFU
  2. "Thousands flock to Dublin for Leinster v Ulster clash", BBC, 30 March 2019.
  3. "Ulster secure double over Leinster to stay on course for home quarter-final". the42. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. "Leinster ride out the storm to escape from Belfast with a seven-point win". the42. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  5. "Fourteen-man Leinster storm back in second half to claim bonus-point win over Ulster". the42. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  6. "Leinster move through the gears to dismiss Ulster and march into last eight". Irish Examiner. April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  7. "Ulster show resilience to claim superb victory over Leinster". Irish Times. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  8. "John Cooney seals thrilling Ulster win over Leinster to secure URC playoff spot". Irish Times. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  9. "Leinster power past Ulster to set up Bulls semi-final in Pretoria". Leinster rugby. Retrieved 11 June 2024.