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The Colours Match
from Wikipedia

The Colours Match - Cluiche na nDathanna
Sport Rugby Union Football
Inaugural Match 13 December 1952
Teams Involved University College Dublin
Dublin University
Inaugural Winner University College Dublin
Current Holder University College Dublin
Captain Daniel Barron
Current Edition 72nd
Most Recent Match 12 February 2026
Venue College Park, Trinity College
Trophy The Colours Cup
Series University College Dublin: 42
Dublin University: 26
Drawn: 4
Largest winning Margin UCD 50–20 DU (6 March 2008)
Longest Winning Sequence UCD (10) [1997/98—2005/06]
Most Captaincies Shane Moore, UCD (3) [1999/00—2001/02]
Most Matches Played Brian Cawley, UCD (11) [2008/09—2018/2019]
Bill Mulcahy, UCD (8) [1953/54—1960/61]
Next Meeting 2025
The Colours Cup

The Colours Match (Irish: Cluiche na nDathanna) is an annual rugby union fixture between Trinity College Dublin (Dublin University Football Club) and University College Dublin (University College Dublin R.F.C.) played since 1952. Rugby matches between UCD RFC and DUFC predate the inauguration of "The Colours Match", going back to 1919.

Background

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Between 1919 and 1952 "friendly" matches took place annually between the clubs on a home and away basis. Their first meeting took place at Terenure on 18 October 1919, won by Trinity.[1][2][3] There were also memorable encounters between UCD and TCD in the Leinster Senior Cup when the draw brought the sides together.[citation needed]

Following the Senior Cup win of UCD over DUFC in 1948 by a dropped goal to nil, the idea of a Colours match was discussed between Harry Thrift of Trinity and Sarsfield Hogan of UCD, who had served together on the International Rugby Board, on which basis each University club would award Colours for the season.[1][2] Lengthy negotiations ensued and with the cooperation of the IRFU committee and of the Lansdowne and Wanderers RFCs a scheme for an annual Colours match was finally agreed.[citation needed]

The two Universities would play once a year in December. Each University would act as the host in turn and be responsible for the management of the match and for the entertainment.[3] The host University, after consultation with the other side, would invite the referee for the match. A formal teams' dinner would be held after the match.[citation needed]

It was envisaged that the match would be played on a Saturday. Increasing numbers of representative matches and the limited number of Saturdays on which Lansdowne Road was available led to pressure to change the match from Saturdays to a mid-week date.[1][2]

History

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The Colours Match was inaugurated on 13 December 1952 at Lansdowne Road with the first title taken by UCD[1][2][4] Trinity gained their first win in 1954 and the first drawn match came in 1955. The first 26 matches and the 35th to 38th matches were held at Lansdowne Road stadium in Dublin. The 27th to 33rd fixtures and the 39th through 60th matches were played at Donnybrook Rugby Ground, the traditional home of the Leinster rugby union team. The 61st 63rd, 65th and 67th encounters took place at the UCD Bowl, Belfield, the 62nd match at Donnybrook Rugby Ground and the 64th, 66th and 68th editions in College Park Rugby Ground, Trinity College.

Trophy

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A trophy, The Colours Cup, presented to the winner of the annual Colours Match, was inaugurated in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee of the first Colours Match in December 1962. It was first presented to the winners of the 51st Colours Match, UCD, in November 2002. The cup is in the form of a claret jug.

University College are the current holders beating Trinity College by 19 points to 13 points on 12 February 2026 at College Park, Trinity College Dublin.

Other editions

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Colours Matches are also played between Trinity and UCD in women's rugby union and other sports, such as association football, Gaelic football, hurling, swimming, boxing, water polo, field hockey, golf, sailing, tennis, and fencing.

Famous participants

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Results

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1950s

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Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date Comment
1 1952/53[5] University College Dublin 13 Tim O'Toole Dublin University 6 Robin Roe* Lansdowne Road Sat 13 December 1952
2 1953/54[6] University College Dublin 14 Alec Spain Dublin University 12 Bill Tector Lansdowne Road Sat 5 December 1953
3 1954/55[7] Dublin University 11 Jim Clinch University College Dublin 6 Harry Crowe Lansdowne Road Sat 4 December 1954
4 1955/56[8] University College Dublin 6 Billy O'Gorman Dublin University 6 Paddy Moss* Lansdowne Road Sat 3 December 1955 Match drawn
5 1956/57[9] University College Dublin 11 Bill Mulcahy Dublin University 3 Graham Taylor Lansdowne Road Sat 1 December 1956
6 1957/58[10] University College Dublin 3 Niall Brophy Dublin University 0 Peter Dowse* Lansdowne Road Sat 7 December 1957
7 1958/59[11] Dublin University 6 Tony Reid-Smith University College Dublin 0 Brian Wain Lansdowne Road Sat 6 December 1958
8 1959/60[12] Dublin University 6 Tony Reid-Smith University College Dublin 3 Henry Wall Lansdowne Road Sat 5 December 1959
  • Acting Captain

1960s

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Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date
9 1960/61[13] University College Dublin 10 Henry Wall Dublin University 3 Ian Hill Lansdowne Road Sat 3 December 1960
10 1961/62[14] University College Dublin 3 Gerry Tormey Dublin University 0 Caleb Powell Lansdowne Road Sat 2 December 1961
11 1962/63[15] University College Dublin 12 Jimmy Kelly Dublin University 3 Martin Rees Lansdowne Road Sat 24 November 1962
12 1963/64[16] Dublin University 8 Bob Read University College Dublin 3 Aidan Brady* Lansdowne Road Sat 14 December 1963
13 1964/65[17] University College Dublin 11 Aidan Brady Dublin University 3 Aubrey Bourke Lansdowne Road Sat 28 November 1964
14 1965/66[18] University College Dublin 13 John Murray Dublin University 0 Dave Buchanan* Lansdowne Road Sat 27 November 1965
15 1966/67[19] University College Dublin 6 Al Moroney Dublin University 0 Dave Buchanan Lansdowne Road Wed 30 November 1966
16 1967/68[20] Dublin University 12 Gerry Murphy University College Dublin 11 John O'Hagan Lansdowne Road Wed 29 November 1967
17 1968/69[21] Dublin University 8 Gerry Murphy University College Dublin 6 Peter Sutherland Lansdowne Road Wed 4 December 1968
18 1969/70[22] University College Dublin 6 Derek Scally Dublin University 3 Chris Hawkesworth* Lansdowne Road Wed 3 December 1969
  • Acting Captain

1970s

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Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date
19 1970/71[23] University College Dublin 3 Shay Deering Dublin University 0 Horace McKinley Lansdowne Road Wed 2 December 1970
20 1971/72[24] University College Dublin 10 Tom Grace Dublin University 3 Ben Underwood Lansdowne Road Wed 1 December 1971
21 1972/73[25] University College Dublin 19 Conor Sparks Dublin University 6 Ben Underwood Lansdowne Road Wed 6 December 1972
22 1973/74[26] Dublin University 18 Richard "Dick" Spring University College Dublin 6 Mick Sherry Lansdowne Road Wed 5 December 1973
23 1974/75[27] University College Dublin 30 Paddy Gahan Dublin University 12 John Boyd Lansdowne Road Wed 4 December 1974
24 1975/76[28] Dublin University 18 John Robbie University College Dublin 3 Jimmy Burns Lansdowne Road Wed 26 November 1975
25 1976/77[29] University College Dublin 15 Stephen Hall* Dublin University 7 Mick Gibson Lansdowne Road 1 December 1976
26 1977/78[30] Dublin University 21 Willy Ryan University College Dublin 12 Stephen Hall Lansdowne Road 30 November 1977
27 1978/79[31] Dublin University 12 Donal Spring University College Dublin 9 Garry Coakley Donnybrook 6 December 1978
28 1979/80[32] Dublin University 10 Donal Spring University College Dublin 0 Sammy Lyons Donnybrook 28 November 1979
  • Acting Captain

1980s

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Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date Comment
29 1980/81[33] Dublin University 9 Hugo MacNeill Dublin University 3 Barry O'Brien Donnybrook Wed 26 November 1980
30 1981/82[34] University College Dublin 12 John Duffy* Dublin University 12 Greg Dilger Donnybrook Wed 2 December 1981 Match drawn
31 1982/83[35] University College Dublin 8 Derek McGrath Dublin University 6 Killian Egan* Donnybrook Wed 1 December 1982
32 1983/44[36] University College Dublin 12 Willie Burns Dublin University 9 Paul Clinch Donnybrook Wed 7 December 1983
33 1984/85[37] Dublin University 17 Paul Clinch University College Dublin 9 Willie Burns* Donnybrook Wed 5 December 1984
34 1985/86[38] University College Dublin 16 Bobby Byrne Dublin University 3 Garry McMahon Donnybrook Wed 4 December 1985
35 1986/87[39] Dublin University 12 Michael Fitzgibbon* University College Dublin 9 John Mulhall* Lansdowne Road Wed 3 December 1986
36 1987/88[40] University College Dublin 15 David Madigan Dublin University 9 Michael Fitzgibbon Lansdowne Road Wed 2 December 1987
37 1988/89[41] Dublin University 10 Donal Sheehan University College Dublin 6 Ray Power Lansdowne Road Wed 7 December 1988
38 1989/90[42] Dublin University 6 Paddy Kenny University College Dublin 6 Finbar Griffin Donnybrook Wed 6 December 1989 Match drawn
  • Acting Captain

1990s

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Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date
39 1990/91[43] Dublin University 24 Ian Morgan University College Dublin 10 Dara O'Flaherty Donnybrook Sun 25 November 1990
40 1991/92[44] University College Dublin 21 Kevin Hogan Dublin University 15 Phil Barlow Donnybrook Sun 1 December 1991
41 1992/93[45] University College Dublin 19 Andrew Donovan Dublin University 12 Steve Tracey Donnybrook Sun 13 December 1992
42 1993/94[46] University College Dublin 11 Andrew Donovan Dublin University 7 Paddy Spicer Donnybrook Sun 12 December 1993
43 1994/95[47] Dublin University 17 Neil Ryan University College Dublin 12 Greg McConkey Donnybrook Sun 18 December 1994
44 1995/96[48] Dublin University 19 Ray McIlreavy University College Dublin 13 John Ryan Donnybrook Wed 13 December 1995
45 1996/97[49] University College Dublin 21 Denis Finn Dublin University 19 Willy Robb Donnybrook Fri 29 November 1996
46 1997/98[50] University College Dublin 36 Gordon Cantwell Dublin University 21 John Doddy Donnybrook Fri 27 March 1998
47 1998/99[51] University College Dublin 37 Gordon Cantwell Dublin University 21 Brian Buckley Donnybrook Wed 10 February 1999
48 1999/00[52] University College Dublin 29 Shane Moore Dublin University 11 Colm Curneen Donnybrook Tues 16 November 1999

2000s

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Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date Comment
49 2000/01[53] University College Dublin 26 Shane Moore Dublin University 3 Colm Curneen Donnybrook Wed 24 January 2001
50 2001/02[54] University College Dublin 17 Shane Moore Dublin University 13 Donal Crotty Donnybrook Tues 20 November 2001
51 2002/03[55] University College Dublin 12 David Blaney Dublin University 6 Donal Crotty Donnybrook Fri 8 November 2002
52 2003/04[56] University College Dublin 25 Dermot Blaney Dublin University 18 Martin Garvey Donnybrook Wed 17 December 2003
53 2004/05[57] University College Dublin 20 Philip Bredin Dublin University 20 Martin Garvey Donnybrook Fri 19 November 2004 Match drawn
54 2005/06[58] University College Dublin 25 Kevin Croke Dublin University 13 Matt Crockett Donnybrook Fri 11 November 2005
55 2006/07[59] Dublin University 16 Brian Hastings University College Dublin 13 Conor Geoghegan Donnybrook Fri 17 November 2006
56 2007/08[60] University College Dublin 50 Michael Hastings Dublin University 20 John Doddy Donnybrook Thurs 6 March 2008 Largest winning margin
57 2008/09[61] Dublin University 20 Shane Young University College Dublin 18 Michael Hastings Donnybrook Fri 14 November 2008
58 2009/10[62] University College Dublin 28 Matt Nagle Dublin University 8 Johnny Iliff Donnybrook Tues 4 March 2010

2010s

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Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date
59 2010/11[63] Dublin University 31 Scott LaValla University College Dublin 22 Andrew Cummiskey Donnybrook Sat 16 April 2011
60 2011/12[64] University College Dublin 31 Andrew Cummiskey Dublin University 9 David Joyce Donnybrook Fri 18 November 2011
61 2012/13[65] University College Dublin 17 Risteard Byrne Dublin University 10 Michael McLoughlin Belfield Bowl Fri 22 February 2013
62 2013/14[66] University College Dublin 16 Shane Grannell Dublin University 12 Jack Kelly Donnybrook Fri 7 March 2014
63 2014/15[67] University College Dublin 32 Emmet McMahon Dublin University 29 Patrick Lavelle Belfield Bowl Thurs 16 April 2015
64 2015/16[68] Dublin University 28 Nicholas McCarthy University College Dublin 15 Steve Murphy College Park, Trinity College Thurs 23 March 2016
65 2016/17[69] University College Dublin 32 Jamie Glynn Dublin University 19 Brian Slater UCD Bowl, Belfield Fri 7 April 2017
66 2017/18[70] Dublin University 11 Michael Courtney University College Dublin 10 Jamie Glynn College Park, Trinity College Thurs 5 April 2018
67 2018/19[71] Dublin University 18 Colm Hogan University College Dublin 12 Alex Penny UCD Bowl, Belfield Thurs 4 April 2019
N/a 2019/20 Dublin University N/a James Hickey University College Dublin N/a Jonny Guy Cancelled, COVID-19 Pandemic Thurs 26 March 2020

2020s

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Edition Academic Year Win Score Captain Loss Score Captain Venue Date
N/a 2020/21 Dublin University N/a Max Kearney University College Dublin N/a Ronan Foley Cancelled, COVID-19 Pandemic Sat 16 January 2021
68 2021/22[72] Dublin University 34 Mick O'Kennedy University College Dublin 27 Jack Ringrose College Park, Trinity College Fri 1 April 2022
69 2022/23 University College Dublin 21 Bobby Sheehan Dublin University 19 Louis O'Reilly UCD Bowl, Belfield Fri 31 March 2023
70 2023/24 Dublin University 22 Diarmuid McCormack University College Dublin 13 Bobby Sheehan College Park, Trinity College Sat 30 March 2024
71 2024/25[73] University College Dublin 37 Bobby Sheehan Dublin University 36 James Hickey UCD Bowl, Belfield Thu 13 March 2025
72 2025/26 University College Dublin 19 Daniel Barron Dublin University 13 David Walsh College Park, Trinity College Thu 12 February 2026

By total wins

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University Titles
University College Dublin 42
Trinity College Dublin 26
Drawn 4

See also

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References

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