# The Colours Match

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.). Rugby matches between UCD RFC and DUFC predate the inauguration of "The Colours Match". Their first meeting took place at Terenure on 18 October 1919, won by Trinity.

## Background

Between 1919 and 1952 "friendly" matches took place annually between the clubs on a home and away basis. There were also memorable encounters between UCD and TCD in the Leinster Senior Cup when the draw brought the sides together.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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.

## History

The Colours Match was inaugurated on 13 December 1952 at Lansdowne Road with the first title taken by UCD 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

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.
Trinity College are the current holders beating University College by 22 points to 13 points on 30 March 2024 at College Park, Trinity College Dublin.

## Other editions

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

* Dick Spring Politician Trinity College
* Peter Sutherland Chairman BP University College
* Brian O'Driscoll Ireland Captain University College
* Jamie Heaslip Ireland Captain Trinity College
* Paddy Johns Ireland Captain Trinity College

## Results
### 1950s

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

### 1960s

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

### 1970s

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

### 1980s

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

### 1990s

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

### 2000s

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

### 2010s

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

### 2020s

| Edition | Academic Year | Win | Score | Captain | Loss | Score | Captain | Venue | Date |
| - | 2020/21 | Dublin University | — | Max Kearney | University College Dublin | — | Ronan Foley | Cancelled, COVID-19 Pandemic | Sat 16 January 2021 |
| 68 | 2021/22 | 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 |

### By total wins

| University | Titles |
| University College Dublin | 40 |
| Trinity College Dublin | 26 |
| Drawn | 4 |