Limerick's seven All-Ireland League rugby clubs learn structure details for 2025/2026 season

THE season structure for the Men’s Energia All-Ireland League, featuring seven Limerick clubs, has been confirmed for the 2025/26 season.

Limerick will have an extra representative in the AIL next season following Thomond's promotion from junior ranks. Young Munster will compete in Division 1A, with Garryowen relegated to 1B and Shannon making the drop to Division 2A where they join Old Crescent.

UL-Bohemian will compete in Division 2B, with Bruff and Thomond set for action in Division 2C.

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With ongoing consultation with the All-Ireland League (AIL) clubs and provincial representatives, the IRFU has announced the men’s Energia AIL competition season plan for the 2025/26 season. 

As with any season plan the November internationals, Six Nations clashes and stadia availability all had to be taken into account when finalising the competitions dates for the season.

The wider season plan was also agreed at the most recent meeting of the IRFU Rugby Committee following the series of engagements and consultations with participating Clubs.

Consultation on the season plan for the Women’s Energia All-Ireland League is ongoing, in line with the work being carried out by Lynne Cantwell on the overall strategy for the women’s game. An update will be communicated in the coming weeks.

The Men’s Divisions of Energia AIL will start a week later than last season and will feature two ‘No Rugby Weekends’. These weekends are separate to reserve weekends in the calendar to allow players, coaches and volunteers to manage their time away from rugby. The first No Rugby Weekend will coincide with the men’s final Autumn Nations Series game, against South Africa on November 22.

Provision has also been made for the successful Club International Series, for the Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division players, to continue this season with the intention to play the fixture in March 2026.

The Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division will kick off on the weekend of September 27, with 18 rounds of the competition ahead of the semi-final and playoff promotion/relegation rounds on the weekend of April 18 and the Energia AIL Final is set for the following weekend on the weekend of April 25, in Aviva Stadium.

The semi-finals of the Energia Bateman Cup will be played on Sunday, November 9, with the final scheduled for January 3.

IRFU Competitions Manager Kevin Beggs said: “Working with the provinces and clubs we were able to map out the men’s domestic season for the coming 12 months . What Clubs want is consistency and that’s what we’re working towards.

"We are delighted with the engagement and consultations with our AIL Clubs and provincial committees during this process, which is such an important part to develop the season plan, and it’s great to have the clubs involved in the process”

2025/26 Men’s Energia AIL Competition Fixtures

Energia Bateman Cup
Semi-Finals: Sunday, November 9, 2025
Final: Saturday January 3, 2026

Energia All-Ireland Men’s Junior Cup
Round One: Saturday October 25, 2025
Quarter-Finals: Saturday November 15, 2025
Semi-Finals: Saturday December 13, 2025
Final: Saturday January 24, 2026

Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Promotion Playoffs
Semi-Finals: Saturday April 18, 2026
Final: Weekend of April 25, 2026

IRFU Men’s Junior Interprovincial Series
Round 1: Saturday October 25, 2025
Round 2: Saturday November, 15, 2025
Round 3: Saturday December 13, 2025
Final: Saturday January 24, 2026

IRFU Fraser McMullen Cup
Quarter-Finals: Weekend of March 28, 2026
Semi-Finals: Weekend of April 4, 2026
Final: Weekend of April 11, 2026

Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Divisions 
Round 1: Weekend of Saturday September 27, 2025
Round 2: Weekend of Saturday October 4, 2025
Round 3: Weekend of Saturday October 11, 2025

Round 4: Weekend of Saturday October 25, 2025
Round 5: Weekend of Saturday November 1, 2025

Round 6: Weekend of Saturday November 15, 2025

No Rugby Weekend – Weekend of November 22, 2025

Round 7: Weekend of Saturday November 29, 2025
Round 8: Weekend of Saturday December 6, 2025
Round 9: Weekend of Saturday December 13, 2025

Round 10: Weekend of Saturday January 10, 2026
Round 11: Weekend of Saturday January 24, 2026
Round 12: Weekend of Saturday January 31, 2026

Round 13: Weekend of Saturday February 7, 2026

Round 14: Weekend of Saturday February 28, 2026
Round 15: Weekend of Saturday March 7, 2026

No Rugby Weekend – Weekend of March 14, 2026

Round 16: Weekend of Saturday March 21, 2026
Round 17: Weekend of Saturday March 28, 2026
Round 18: Weekend of Saturday April 4, 2026

Play-Off Semi-Finals: Weekend of Saturday April 18, 2026

Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division and Play-Off Finals: Weekend of Saturday April 25, 2026