New beginnings for Tipperary trio as All-Ireland League returns

The Energia All-Ireland League returns this Saturday with Tipperary once again boasting three senior clubs, although Nenagh Ormond RFC, Cashel RFC and Clonmel RFC head into the new campaign from very different starting points.

For Nenagh Ormond, the new season represents something of a reset after their historic adventure in Division 1A ended in relegation last spring.

Cashel remain in the familiar surroundings of Division 2A and will look to push themselves back towards the promotion conversation, while Clonmel begin life in the newly restructured Division 2B South with considerable momentum behind them after being crowned Division 2C champions last April.

All three begin their league campaigns on Saturday afternoon.

NENAGH ORMOND

There is no getting away from how difficult last season was for Nenagh Ormond, but context is important when assessing their first ever campaign at the highest level of Irish club rugby.

Having become the first Tipperary club to reach Division 1A following their remarkable promotion in 2025, Ormond discovered just how unforgiving the top tier can be and were ultimately relegated back to Division 1B.

However, their rise through the divisions in the years beforehand means Division 1B is hardly unfamiliar territory. They won Division 2A in 2023/24 before finishing second in Division 1B the following season and eventually defeating UCC in the promotion play-off final to reach the top flight for the first time.

The challenge now is to regroup, and there has been considerable change in the playing ranks during the summer. Fionn O'Meara has moved to Young Munster, while hooker Dylan Murphy has joined Terenure College following a move to Dublin. Scrum-half Luke Kerr has also departed for Old Wesley.

Props Darragh McSweeney and Sean Frawley have moved to UCC and Old Crescent respectively, while James Meagher has joined fellow Tipperary club Clonmel. Experienced campaigner Nicky Irwin has also stepped away from senior rugby and returned to his home club Thurles.

Aaron Kelly and David Gleeson have opted to go travelling, while overseas players Angus Blackmore, Tom Croft and Mateo Sentous have returned home. There has been plenty of movement in the opposite direction too.

New Zealand out-half Jonty Stewart has already made an impression during Nenagh's Munster Senior Cup campaign, while Munster U19 out-half Aaron Moloney and back-row Evan Brophy have arrived through the club's connection with Cistercian College Roscrea.

Hookers Ignacio Failla and Taylor Coles have also joined, along with Welsh back-row Olly Hailing. Roman Salanoa remains with Nenagh following his release by Munster, while the club continue their Munster affiliation, with Sean O'Brien, Lee Barron and Michael Milne on their books should they become available. Academy prop Emmet Calvey has also been added.

There has been change on the sideline too. Derek Corcoran remains as head coach but has stepped back from playing at senior level, with John Long continuing as Director of Rugby. John O'Dowd has come on board as assistant coach, while Rob Buckley has taken over as forwards coach.

There have already been encouraging signs from the new-look group. Nenagh defeated Old Crescent in their first competitive game before overcoming Highfield in the Munster Senior Cup quarter-final. They subsequently came agonisingly close to reaching the final, losing 31-25 to Garryowen after leading 25-24 during the second half.

Those games should leave Ormond battle-hardened heading into the league, which begins with a difficult trip to Cork to face Highfield at Woodleigh Park on Saturday at 2.30pm. It will also be a quick rematch between two teams who have already become well acquainted this season.

After the bruising experience of Division 1A, getting some early momentum behind them would represent an ideal start.

CASHEL

Cashel begin another Division 2A campaign looking to improve on a mixed 2025/26 season.

They eventually finished sixth with 44 points from their 18 games, recording seven wins, one draw and ten defeats. There were enough impressive performances along the way to show what Cashel are capable of, but consistency proved difficult to find.

That was in contrast to the previous campaign when they came agonisingly close to promotion, reaching the Division 1B promotion/relegation final before suffering an 18-16 defeat to Dublin University at College Park.

Cashel have also had to contend with the progression of one of their brightest young players, Rob Carney, who has joined the Munster Rugby Academy after an impressive campaign which also saw him become a regular with the Ireland U20s.

They begin the new league season on home soil, with UL Bohemian making the trip to Spafield on Saturday at 2.30pm. The Limerick side step up from Division 2B after earning promotion last season, and their arrival should provide Cashel with an immediate test.

A difficult journey north to Queen's University follows on October 3rd before Galwegians visit Spafield a week later. Cashel then travel to Wanderers before Dungannon arrive in Tipperary to complete their opening five-game block.

Having shown two seasons ago that they are capable of putting themselves in the promotion picture, the task this time around will be finding the consistency required to get back into that conversation.

CLONMEL

Of the three Tipperary clubs, Clonmel undoubtedly carry the greatest momentum into the new campaign.

Last season proved a memorable one at Ard Gaoithe as Clonmel finished top of Division 2C after an excellent regular-season campaign. They accumulated 69 points from their 18 matches, winning 14 and losing just four to finish two points clear of Bective Rangers at the summit.

However, finishing top did not automatically secure the title under last season's competition format, leaving Clonmel with more work to do in the play-offs. They produced their best rugby when the stakes were highest.

Dolphin were dispatched 44-17 at Ard Gaoithe in the semi-final, with Freddie Davies helping himself to a hat-trick of tries. That set up a home final against Bective Rangers, and Davies again proved the headline act.

The winger crossed for another hat-trick, while Luke Hogan also touched down and Josef O'Connor converted all four tries as Clonmel held their nerve to record a 28-24 victory and be crowned Division 2C champions.

They now step into a considerably different landscape. The IRFU has restructured the lower levels of the AIL for 2026/27, with the former Divisions 2B and 2C replaced by geographically organised Division 2B North and Division 2B South competitions.

Clonmel will compete in the southern section and have also added some higher-level experience to their squad, with James Meagher making the move from Nenagh Ormond during the summer.

There have been positive signs in their preparations too, including a 47-21 friendly victory over Skerries at Ard Gaoithe earlier this month. Their league campaign begins away from home against Monkstown at Sydney Parade on Saturday at 2.30pm.

The first home game follows seven days later when familiar opponents Dolphin visit Ard Gaoithe before Clonmel travel to Enniscorthy in round three. Home games against Thomond and Old Crescent follow as Clonmel look to carry the confidence generated by last season's title-winning campaign into the new division.

The challenge now is to build on the progress made last season and establish themselves at the higher level.

Energia AIL - Round 1 - Saturday, September 26th - 2.30pm

Division 1B: Highfield v Nenagh Ormond, Woodleigh Park

Division 2A: Cashel v UL Bohemian, Spafield

Division 2B South: Monkstown v Clonmel, Sydney Parade