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The Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup is the premier rugby union competition for secondary schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU. First held in 1887, the Cup celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2007. Schools Senior Cup Rugby is divided into 4 tiers in two sections and each cup competition bears a name as follows: Section A Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Development Cup (effectively division 4), Section A Leinster Schools Rugby McMullen Cup (effectively division 3), Section B Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Cup (effectively division 2), Section B Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup (effectively division 1). Attendances are high for a schoolboy competition, with up to 25,000 present at the final. This match traditionally takes place on Saint Patrick's Day at Lansdowne Road (now known as the Aviva Stadium). In 2008, the final was played at the Royal Dublin Society Grounds (RDS) after Donnybrook proved to be way too small for the 2007 final, (Lansdowne Road was closed for redevelopment) and has been the home since. The competition has been subject to criticism from various quarters as being "elitist" (as most of the competing schools are fee-paying; in fact only one non fee-paying school has won the cup, De La Salle Churchtown) and for putting undue pressure on its participants. It is also the subject of satire through the Ross O'Carroll Kelly newspaper column and novels. The competition and schools rugby in the four provinces has been praised though with "Irish (rugby) game in debt to schools rugby".〔(Irish game in debt to schools rugby )〕 Blackrock College are the most successful school in the Cup's history, having lifted the Cup 68 times, followed by Belvedere College and Terenure College with both 10 wins .〔 (Statistics compiled by Des Daly, Irish Rugby Statistician )〕 Three schools have won the Cup at their first attempt; Blackrock College in the competition's maiden year in 1887, Castleknock College who won the first of their eight Leinster titles at the first time of asking when they defeated Blackrock in the 1913 final and Clongowes Wood College who first won the cup in 1926. To date only five schools have achieved the almost mythical Senior and Junior Cup "double". These are Blackrock, who have achieved this feat 26 times (1910, 1912, 1927, 1933, 1935–36, 1942–43, 1945, 1948, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1962, 1964, 1981–82, 1986–87, 1995, 2004, 2006, 2013-14), St Michaels (2012), Belvedere (2005), Terenure (1958) and Castleknock (1920). No double was won by any school (including Blackrock) in the 16 years from 1964 to 1981. Even more rare is to lose both the Senior and Junior Cup Finals in the same year. This depressing feat has been achieved by six schools on 11 occasions. Terenure College leads with 4 (1957, 1964, 1969 & 1987), followed by Belvedere College with 3 (1930, 1944 & 1962), next St Michaels College (2010), St Mary's College (1943), Newbridge College (1939)and Cistercian College Roscrea (1910) with 1 each. Remarkably Blackrock College have never been beaten in both finals in the same year. Blackrock College have only been defeated in successive finals on two occasions. In the 1920s they were runners up three times in a row, defeated by St Andrews in 1921 & 1922 followed by Belvedere in 1923. The second occasion was in 1979 & 1980 when they were defeated in successive finals by Terenure College. In fact Terenure College defeated Blackrock College in five Schools Cup Finals in a row in the period 1976 to 1980, JCT 1976, 77 & 78 and SCT 1979 & 1980. Blackrock College students from the late 1970s, to this day harbor a great fear of the "Purple Black and White" of Terenure College. The Cup, and the Schools who play for it, have a history of producing fine rugby players, many of whom go on to play for Ireland. Players such as Denis Hickie, who captained his St. Mary's College team to win the cup in 1994, and Gordon D'Arcy have impressive senior cup records. The most international players produced have come from Blackrock College, with players such as Brian O'Driscoll, Victor Costello, Shane Byrne, Bob Casey, Leo Cullen and more recently Luke Fitzgerald. Terenure College has also produced many Irish international players including Mick Hipwell (also Lion's 1971), Kevin Flynn, Paul Haycock, Niall Hogan (Irish Captain 1995), Conor O'Shea, Ciaran Clarke, and Girvan Dempsey. Two captains have gained the distinction of lifting the cup twice, Ross Gallagher (Blackrock College) in 1989 and 1990, Barry Gibney (Blackrock College) in 1995 and 1996. ==Roll of honour== ¹ Corrig School moved premises to Monkstown Park in 1950 and was renamed C.B.C. Monkstown. ² Mountjoy School was amalgamated with other schools in 1972 to become Mount Temple Comprehensive School. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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