Bateman Cup: Its History And Past Winners

Ulster Bank Bateman Cup Final Preview: Cork Constitution v UCD

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.

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.

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.

Since the IRFU reintroduced the Bateman Cup in 2011 Munster clubs have dominated the competition with Bruff (2011), Garryowen (2012) and current champions Cork Constitution (2013) all winning it.

If Cork Con win today, they will become the first club to retain the Bateman Cup since Lansdowne’s three in-a-row success of 1929-1931.

This afternoon’s visitors to Temple Hill, UCD, have competed in two previous Bateman Cup deciders – losing 29-11 to Queen’s University in 1924, before winning the title for the first and only time in 1938 (they defeated Young Munster 16-6).

BATEMAN CUP – PREVIOUS FINALS:

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)

2011 – Bruff 24 Dungannon 18 – Match Report / Video Highlights
2012 – Garryowen 24 Ballymena 6 – Match Report
2013 – Cork Constitution 24 St. Mary’s College 19 – Match Report / Post-Match Video