Rugby League Ireland (RLI) recently held the official launch of the 2010 Carnegie League at the impressive Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.

2010 will see the league's format being revamped with the introduction of Provincial Conference's in Leinster, Munster and Ulster with the best team from each conference progressing to the All Ireland Play-Off's.

2010 will also see the return of the Interprovincial Championship which will see the conference's competing against each other for bragging rights.

Speaking on the new look league RLI Director Gordon Matthews expressed his satisfaction with the structure.

"This is the first time ever we will have 3 conference's competing for the All Ireland Championship. It's a huge step forward from last year when we had just one league with only six teams."

He also acknowledged the work of the staff in the organisation. "This step forward is due completely to the hard work put in by our General Manger Callum Irving and development officers Wayne Kelly and Brendan Guilfoyle."

Callum Irving showed his delight at the growth of the game in Ireland when he spoke of the expansion.

"There are new clubs emerging as well as clubs which have been bubbling under the surface coming back into the game."

He also noted that the interprovincial competition will act as a stepping stone for players to get into the international set up.

"Hopefully the advent of the interprovincial game will give players a platform to get onto the A Team or international and possibly pick up full time contracts in the UK as two players did last season."

Gordon Matthews closed the launch by thanking the Rugby Football league and in particular Neill Wood for their helping hand in the growth of the game in Ireland.
 

Rugby League Season Planner

May
1st May - Domestic league round 1 for Leinster and Munster. Ulster 9s
8th May - Domestic league round 2 for Leinster and Munster. Domestic league round 1 for Ulster
15th May - Domestic league round 3 for Leinster and Munster. Domestic league round 2 for Ulster and provincial training
22nd May - Domestic league round 4 for Leinster and Munster. Domestic league round 3 for Ulster and provincial training
29th May - Inter provincial games and A team squad named

June
5th June - Domestic league round 5 for Leinster and Munster. Domestic league round 4 for Ulster. Student training and A team training
12th June - A team home nations game
19th June - Domestic league round 6 for Leinster and Munster. Domestic league round 5 for Ulster. Student training and A team training
26th June - Domestic league round 7 for Leinster and Munster. Senior team training

July
3rd July - Domestic league round 8 for Leinster and Munster. Domestic league round 6 for Ulster. Student training and A team training
10th July - Munster/Leinster 9s. A team home nations game
17th July - Domestic league play offs for Leinster and Munster. Student home nations game and A team training
24th July - Grand Final for Leinster and Munster. Play off for Ulster. Student home nations game
31st July - Ulster grand final and A team training

August
7th August - All Ireland play off
14th August - All Ireland grand final
28th August - Senior team training
September is free

October
2nd October - Senior team training
9th October - Euro cup game 1
16th October - Euro cup game 2
23rd October - Euro cup game 3