The Connacht Rugby Junior League starts in late August for the first time in history this coming season and the reason for this all stems from a short sighted decision to go against the grain with league rules four seasons ago.

It will have little or no effect on the number of days and nights that players will have to commit to for their top tier clubs adding in two extra games where friendlies or training sessions might have been in place.

However it has a hugely debilitating effect on those trying to organise the season schedule with a total of four extra rounds needed when you switch form eight to nine teams but more on that in another article.

Since the season starts so early this year and includes four more weekend’s of action, we thought we’d break it all down in numbers from both the team and playing perspective as Monivea (pic) look to defend their title, Connemara come back down to the Junior leagues and Castlebar and Ballinasloe gain promotion.

Some Numbers

The Teams

18 - That’s the absolute minimum number of games a club in the top tier of the Junior league will play if they are one of the five that are not in the All Ireland Cup and exit both Cups at the first hurdle.

21 - That’s are prediction of a likely average number of competitive games for a top tier club allowing for some progress in cup games.

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It’s time for the unloved Connacht Senior Clubs to make like Nellie the Elephant and pack their trunks.

It’s time for them to propose their own Connacht Senior Seconds League starting next season.

A league where they can get on with the business of developing up and coming young talent in their clubs, preparing them for senior rugby, giving game time to players returning from injuries and long serving squad players looking for competitive rugby.

A league where they can keep a firm focus on their first team like every other club in Connacht rather than find themselves constantly chastised for not putting equal amount of time into their 2nd xv. One where they can have off days when squad resources are low and not have this dramatic fluctuation in form effect the league positions every other Junior club chasing promotion or fighting to avoid relegation.

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On Monday June 24th Connacht clubs will have a chance to vote on some key changes to structures and format in the Junior leagues as put forward by the Connacht Branch Domestic games department based on their own research.

It is vital that players, coaches and officials in all clubs are familiar with what is down for discussion and play a part in helping frame their clubs position on they issues.

You can read them in detail here.

Junior Rugby Review and Proposals

You can also get a feel for the season structure plan in terms of dates here.

Draft Connacht Season Plan 13-14 MkIII

Five Key Issues in New Connacht Season Proposals

1.  League Structure Changes

The league structures are changing thanks to the extraordinary decision made by Connacht clubs some years ago to extend the size of the top division in the event of one of the provinces AIL sides being relegated some years ago.

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