Just as with last season, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup holders Royal Belfast Academical Institution have been drawn against old rivals Campbell College for the historic competition’s round of 16 to be played in January.
This time the clash will be in Campbell’s backyard and Inst’s bid to claim their first hat-trick of titles since they managed the feat under Dan Soper in 2017 is to begin in east Belfast.
So, an opener to attract plenty of attention and a test of Inst’s credentials first up for this all-Belfast clash bringing together two big-hitting schools who have such presence and history in the long-running competition.
“I remember thinking back to the draw last year and when the two names came out of the hat I think a lot of people in the room quite enjoyed it,” said RBAI head coach Jamie Kirk when reacting to his squad’s opening fixture.
“And you can tell from the reaction, and it was pretty similar this year, a few noises when the two schools came out but I suppose that’s what the competition is all about. It’s a huge game first up and I’ve no doubt it will be really competitive and both teams will be well prepared for it.
“It’s exciting now to get the next six weeks of preparation under our belts and make sure we’re ready for a big test,” he added.
With Inst going for the three-in-a-row, Kirk was keen to stress that such thoughts have been set aside with so much rugby yet to be played before making it to St Patrick’s Day can be firmly placed on the radar never mind keeping the trophy at the Belfast city centre school.
“It’s definitely not in the mind in terms of that,” said Kirk of the possible treble, “but it’s definitely a new year and we’re just excited to get going and now we’ve got Campbell, it’s exciting now to know who you’ve got and we can now focus on getting ready for it.
“Last year was hugely successful but we can’t rely on that to create success this year.
“It’s a different squad moving forward and you want to take that experience of success forward but not take it for granted.
“We must make sure we work even harder than we did last year across all the competitions to make sure we can have success,” Kirk added in reference to Inst’s securing of both the Schools’ Cup and Medallion Shield in 2024. Indeed, regarding the latter, the school are on for a triple success in this competition as well.
As for the personnel at Kirk’s disposal, the squad is still looking strong with a significant number of last season’s successful side still at the school.
“We’ve probably got about half from the match day Final last year,” Kirk explained.
“We’ve retained and we’ve also a good crop of players coming through so there’s a nice blend of boys that have been there for occasions.
“A couple have been there two years now and that mix of them with a couple of the boys coming through from the Medallion squad last year brings a nice mix.”
Inst’s recent Schools’ Cup record against Campbell also makes for positive reading for the holders as they not only saw them off in last season’s round of 16 but did so as well on St Patrick’s Day in the 2023 Final.
Reacting to that, Kirk said: “That could be a positive thing and a negative thing if you take it for granted but we’ll make it clear to the squad that they’re not retaining Schools’ Cups they’re going out to win it.
“It’s great to have experience of that (beating Campbell) but it’ll count for very little when it comes to the twenty fifth of January.
“It will be a new challenge and if there’s any complacency in terms of ‘we’ve done this before’ then that wouldn’t result in the performance that’s required.
“They can take confidence from what they have done before, but when it comes down to it, it’ll all be about the performance itself.”
Elsewhere in the draw, last season’s beaten Finalists Ballymena Academy open their campaign at Dalriada.
Beaten Semi-Finalists Sullivan Upper are at Banbridge Academy and Wallace High School, who lost to Inst in the Semis last time out, travel to Enniskillen Royal Grammar. Methodist College host Belfast Royal Academy for their opener.
Danske Bank Schools’ Cup Round of 16
Banbridge Academy v Sullivan Upper
Enniskillen RG v Wallace High School
Methodist College v BRA
Bangor Grammar v Rainey Endowed
Dalriada v Ballymena Academy
Coleraine Grammar v Regent House School
Campbell College v RBAI
Games to be played on or before Saturday, January 25, 2025.