The Front Row Union Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings, The FRU Rankings

Schools: 1st XV Rankings 2016/17 – End of 2016

Summary // Table // Scores // FAQs

It’s a good bit later than usual but the Ulster Schools’ 1stXV Rankings are back! This year 33 teams are taking involved and below is the ranking for each one this season as they stood at the end of 2016; the rankings as a result of Cup Round 2 are soon to follow, but first up, the end of year results:

RBAI have won the Cup in the previous two seasons and their domination looks set to continue for the time being as they top the table. Wallace HS (2nd), the perennial runners-up of the competition, sit appropriately just behind them while Omagh Academy (3rd) and Down HS (4th) follow respectively justifying their inclusion as two of the top seeds.

Towards the other end of the table, former top seeds of Regent House (21st) and Limavady GS (22nd) find themselves in positions which they’ll certainly want to improve upon while newcomers Dromore HS (28th) have managed to keep themselves off the bottom spot in start to their inaugural season.


Schools’ 1stXV Rankings 2016/17 – End of 2016

  Team Win Ratio Opponent Rating Score Season Rating
1 RBAI 1.000 0.575 754 0.965
2 Wallace HS 0.846 0.564 645 0.853
3 Omagh Academy 0.800 0.531 583 0.787
4 Down HS 0.750 0.531 556 0.757
5 Ballymena Academy 0.688 0.533 521 0.719
6 Methodist College 0.556 0.628 508 0.702
7 Campbell College 0.600 0.570 504 0.695
8 RS Armagh 0.692 0.489 451 0.639
9 Ballyclare HS 0.679 0.483 427 0.611
10 Enniskillen Royal 0.727 0.428 414 0.594
11 Friends’ School 0.708 0.489 408 0.585
12 Sullivan Upper 0.417 0.547 379 0.553
13 RS Dungannon 0.571 0.481 376 0.546
14 Rainey ES 0.536 0.475 352 0.519
15 Belfast Royal Academy 0.455 0.505 321 0.484
16 Coleraine GS 0.333 0.616 296 0.456
17 Bangor GS 0.364 0.531 286 0.443
18 Lurgan College 0.556 0.418 283 0.437
19 Portadown College 0.417 0.540 264 0.414
20 Grosvenor GS 0.300 0.541 260 0.407
21 Regent House 0.400 0.503 238 0.382
22 Limavady GS 0.444 0.465 235 0.375
23 Antrim GS 0.500 0.352 221 0.358
24 Wellington College 0.357 0.499 207 0.340
25 Larne GS 0.438 0.369 190 0.320
26 Banbridge Academy 0.214 0.521 137 0.264
27 Belfast HS 0.222 0.452 132 0.255
28 Dromore HS 0.200 0.491 127 0.247
29 Cambridge House 0.222 0.415 110 0.227
30 Foyle College 0.125 0.556 99 0.212
31 Dalriada 0.150 0.430 94 0.204
32 Strabane Academy 0.333 0.091 35 0.141
33 Carrickfergus GS 0.000 0.431 0 0.108

Scores

Given below, to the best of our knowledge, is a full list of results for each Ulster Schools’ 1stXV that participates in the Schools’ Cup competition; it does not include training/controlled matches, opponents from outside of Ulster, non-schools’ teams or games against teams who are not 1stXV EXCEPT for ‘Select’ squads, indicated by an asterisk *.

Any letters/numbers appearing in brackets () after a result indicates that it was a competitive fixture; the letter (c,p,b,t) gives the form of competition (cup, plate, bowl, trophy) and the number (1-4,q,s,f) indicates the round at which it was played.

If you feel that any information is missing/incorrect, please leave a comment at the bottom stating the correct details along with any ‘evidence’ (website, match report, player) to support your claim.

Antrim GS (ANT)
10th Sep, Away v WEL: 7-7 D
24th Sep, Home v LUR: 7-14 L
8th Oct, Away v CMB: 0-17 W
22nd Oct, Home v LAR: 15-15 D
12th Nov, Away v PDC: 36-5 L
26th Nov, Home v WEL: 26-0 W
10th Dec, Away v BEL: 20-5 L
17th Dec, Away v CAR: 3-31 W

Ballyclare HS (BCL)
3rd Sep, Away v BMA: 7-7 D
10th Sep, Away v BRA: 25-10 L
17th Sep, Home v CCB: 16-15 W
23rd Sep, Away v LAR: 0-17 W
1st Oct, Away v RBAI: 46-3 L
8th Oct, Away v BEL: 12-21 W
19th Oct, Home v LIM: 48-7 W
26th Oct, Home v WHS: 17-31 L
9th Nov, Away v BGS: 31-45 W
19th Nov, Away v FSL: 16-18 W
26th Nov, Home v DAL: 32-0 W
10th Dec, Away v MCB: 36-3 L
17th Dec, Away v COL: 8-17 W
28th Dec, Home* v CMB: 29-10 W

Ballymena Academy (BMA)
3rd Sep, Home v BCL: 7-7 D
10th Sep, Away v WHS: 64-14 L
24th Sep, Home v BGS: 24-0 W
1st Oct, Away v COL: 21-40 W
8th Oct, Away v MCB: 5-13 W
15th Oct, Home v BRA: 50-0 W
28th Nov, Away v DWN: 12-8 L
10th Dec, Home v CCB: 8-6 W

Banbridge Academy (BANB)
10th Sep, Home v PDC: 17-10 W
14th Sep, Home v RSA: 0-34 L
17th Sep, Home v SUL: 10-28 L
24th Sep, Away v OMA: 22-0 L
1st Oct, Home v ENN: 0-13 L
8th Oct, Away v LUR: 34-0 L
15th Oct, Away v BGS: 61-5 L
22nd Oct, Home v COL: 0-53 L
9th Nov, Away v BEL: 10-17 W
19th Nov, Home v WEL: 21-0 W
3rd Dec, Away v RSD: 34-5 L
10th Dec, Home v BRA: 7-33 L
22nd Dec, Home v LUR: 3-7 L
28th Dec, Home v RES: 7-13 L

Bangor GS (BGS)
10th Sep, Home v RSA: 7-24 L
17th Sep, Away v PDC: 15-5 L
24th Sep, Away v BMA: 24-0 L
1st Oct, Home v BEL: 31-10 W
8th Oct, Away v LIM: 14-21 W
15th Oct, Home v BANB: 61-5 W
22nd Oct, Away v CCB: 20-10 L
9th Nov, Home v BCL: 31-45 L
23rd Nov, Away v FSL: 38-17 L
2nd Dec, Away v DAL: 21-40 W
28th Dec, Away v RBAI: 52-5 L

Belfast HS (BEL)
21st Sep, Home v CAR: 50-10 W
24th Sep, Home v PDC: 14-27 L
1st Oct, Away v BGS: 31-10 L
8th Oct, Home v BCL: 12-21 L
22nd Oct, Home v FSL: 0-27 L
9th Nov, Home v BANB: 10-17 L
19th Nov, Away v RSA: 48-0 L
3rd Dec, Home v REG: 0-31 L
10th Dec, Home v ANT: 20-5 W

Belfast Royal Academy (BRA)
10th Sep, Home v BCL: 25-10 W
24th Sep, Away v MCB: 53-10 L
1st Oct, Away v SUL: 27-5 L
8th Oct, Home v WHS: 17-19 L
15th Oct, Away v BMA: 50-0 L
22nd Oct, Home v RSD, 12-17 L
12th Nov, Home v DWN: 22-28 L
19th Nov, Home v DAL: 36-8 W
3rd Dec, Home v COL: 10-8 W
10th Dec, Away v BANB: 7-33 W
17th Dec, Home v RSA: 15-13 W

Cambridge House (CMB)
17th Sep, Away v FSL: 76-7 L
24th Sep, Away v DAL: 38-0 L
1st Oct, Home v GRO*: 19-7 W
8th Oct, Home v ANT: 0-17 L
15th Oct, Away v CAR: 12-22 W
29th Oct, Away v RES: 28-26 L
5th Nov, Away v REG: 24-11 L
3rd Dec, Home v LAR: 8-10 L (c1)
28th Dec, Away v BCL*: 29-10 L

Campbell College Belfast (CCB)
17th Sep, Away v BCL: 16-15 L
24th Sep, Away v WHS: 14-7 L
8th Oct, Away v REG: 0-32 W
15th Oct, Home v COL: 58-0 W
22nd Oct, Home v BGS: 20-10 W
12th Nov, Away v GRO: 8-25 W
16th Nov, Home v RBAI: 15-28 L
3rd Dec, Home v MCB: 10-6 W
10th Dec, Away v BMA: 8-6 L
17th Dec, Away v FSL: 7-29 W

Carrickfergus GS (CAR)
9th Sep, Home v LAR: 0-7 L
21st Sep, Away v BEL: 50-10 L
24th Sep, Away v LIM: 45-5 L
15th Oct, Home v CMB: 12-22 L
19th Nov, Home v LUR: 0-52 L
26th Nov, Away v LAR: 35-7 L
3rd Dec, Away v STR: 17-0 L (c1)
17th Dec, Home v ANT: 3-31 L

Coleraine GS (COL)
17th Sep, Home v OMA: 0-11 L
24th Sep, Away v REG: 19-43 W
1st Oct, Home v BMA: 21-40 L
8th Oct, Away v RBAI: 27-10 L
15th Oct, Away v CCB: 58-0 L
22nd Oct, Away v BANB: 0-53 W
12th Nov, Away v ENN: 5-10 W
19th Nov, Away v MCB: 38-10 L
28th Nov, Home v RSD: 30-26 W
3rd Dec, Away v BRA: 10-8 L
17th Dec, Home v BCL: 8-17 L
28th Dec, Away v WHS: 33-0 L

Dalriada (DAL)
14th Sep, Away v GRO: 31-5 L
17th Sep, Away v RES: 12-12 D
24th Sep, Home v CMB: 38-0 W
8th Oct, Home v SUL: 12-62 L
15th Oct, Away v FLC: 13-14 L
19th Nov, Away v BRA: 36-8 L
26th Nov, Away v BCL: 32-0 L
2nd Dec, Home v BGS: 21-40 L
10th Dec, Home v LIM: 12-19 L

Down HS (DWN)
10th Sep, Away v OMA: 10-7 L
17th Sep, Away v GRO: 7-14 W
24th Sep, Home v SUL: 7-0 W
1st Oct, Away v RSA: 21-5 L
8th Oct, Home v PDC: 36-7 W
15th Oct, Away v DRO: 5-19 W
19th Oct, Home v RBAI: 12-36 L
12th Nov, Away v BRA: 22-28 W
19th Nov, Away v REG: 5-34 W
28th Nov, Home v BMA: 12-8 W
3rd Dec, Home v FSL: 19-19 D
10th Dec, Away v SUL: 7-33 W
17th Dec, Home v RSD: 34-7 W
30th Dec, Home v GRO: 29-10 W 

Dromore HS (DRO)
1st Oct, Away v REG: 12-15 W
15th Oct, Home v DWN: 5-19 L
12th Nov, Away v RES: 15-5 L
19th Nov, Away v RSD: 29-5 L
3rd Dec, Away v PDC: 31-5 L 

Enniskillen Royal (ENN)
10th Sep, Home v FLC: 30-13 W
17th Sep, Home v REG: 22-5 W
24th Sep, Home v RSA: 8-5 W
1st Oct, Away v BANB: 0-13 W
7th Oct, Away v RES: 3-7 W
15th Oct, Away v RSD: 10-22 W
22nd Oct, Away v FLC: 10-22 W
12th Nov, Home v COL: 5-10 L
19th Nov, Away v PDC: 22-12 L
3rd Dec, Home v LIM: 33-0 W
17th Dec, Home v OMA: 5-17 L 

Foyle College (FLC)
10th Sep, Away v ENN: 30-13 L
14th Sep, Home v STR: 57-0 W
16th Sep, Away v LIM: 30-0 L
28th Sep, Away v RES: 52-0 L
1st Oct, Away v RSD: 34-3 L
15th Oct, Home v DAL: 13-14 L
22nd Oct, Home v ENN: 10-22 L
3rd Dec, Home v OMA: 0-43 L

Friends’ School Lisburn (FSL)
17th Sep, Home v CMB: 76-7 W
30th Sep, Away v LAR: 10-45 W
8th Oct, Home v GRO: 20-18 W
15th Oct, Home v OMA: 9-24 L
22nd Oct, Away v BEL: 0-27 W
12th Nov, Home v WEL: 55-0 W
19th Nov, Home v BCL: 16-18 L
23rd Nov, Home v BGS: 38-17 W
3rd Dec, Away v DWN: 19-19 D
10th Dec, Home v RES: 41-19 W
17th Dec, Home v CCB: 7-29 L
31st Dec, Home v LUR: 52-24 W

Grosvenor GS (GRO)
14th Sep, Home v DAL: 31-5 W
17th Sep, Home v DWN: 7-14 L
24th Sep, Home v RSD: 13-7 W
1st Oct, Away* v CMB: 19-7 L
8th Oct, Away v FSL: 20-18 L
15th Oct, Home v REG: 12-15 L
12th Nov, Home v CCB: 8-25 L
3rd Dec, Away v LUR: 3-17 W
10th Dec, Home v RSA: 49-22 L
30th Dec, Away v DWN: 29-10 L

Larne GS (LAR)
9th Sep, Away v CAR: 0-7 W
17th Sep, Away v WEL: 27-7 L
23rd Sep, Home v BCL: 0-17 L
30th Sep, Home v FSL: 10-45 L
22nd Oct, Away v ANT: 15-15 D
26th Nov, Home v CAR: 35-7 W
3rd Dec, Away v CMB: 8-10 W (c1)
28th Dec, Home v WEL: 17-28 L

Limavady GS (LIM)
16th Sep, Home v FLC: 30-0 W
24th Sep, Home v CAR: 45-5 W
1st Oct, Away v WHS: 58-5 W
8th Oct, Home v BGS: 14-21 L
19th Oct, Away v BCL: 48-7 L
22nd Oct, Away v RES: 42-0 L
16th Nov, Home v SUL: 5-31 L
3rd Dec, Away v ENN: 33-0 L
10th Dec, Away v DAL: 12-19 W

Lurgan College (LUR)
24th Sep, Away v ANT: 7-14 W
1st Oct, Away v WEL: 0-35 W
8th Oct, Home v BANB: 34-0 W
29th Oct, Away v OMA: 12-8 L
12th Nov, Home v RSD: 0-6 L
19th Nov, Away v CAR: 0-52 W
3rd Dec, Home v GRO: 3-17 L
22nd Dec, Away v BANB: 3-7 W
31st Dec, Away v FSL: 52-24 L

Methodist College Belfast (MCB)
10th Sep, Home v SUL: 12-5 W^
24th Sep, Home v BRA: 53-10 W
1st Oct, Home v OMA: 5-3 W
8th Oct, Home v BMA: 5-13 L
15th Oct, Away v RBAI: 26-5 L
19th Nov, Home v COL: 38-10 W
26th Nov, Away v WHS: 12-5 L
3rd Dec, Away v CCB: 10-6 L
10th Dec, Home v BCL: 36-3 W

Omagh Academy (OMA)
10th Sep, Home v DWN: 10-7 W
17th Sep, Away v COL: 0-11 W
24th Sep, Home v BANB: 22-0 W
1st Oct, Away v MCB: 5-3 L
5th Oct, Home* v STR: 12-0 W
8th Oct, Home v RSD: 17-10 W
15th Oct, Away v FSL: 9-24 W
22nd Oct, Home v RSA: 26-18 W
29th Oct, Home v LUR: 12-8 W
19th Nov, Away v WHS: 31-7 L
24th Nov, Home v RES: 17-5 W
3rd Dec, Away v FLC: 0-43 W
10th Dec, Home v PDC: 51-7 W
17th Dec, Away v ENN: 5-17 W
30th Dec, Home v RBAI: 5-40 L

Portadown College (PDC)
10th Sep, Away v BANB: 17-10 L
17th Sep, Home v BGS: 15-5 W
24th Sep, Away v BEL: 14-27 W
1st Oct, Home v RES: 19-31 L
8th Oct, Away v DWN: 36-7 L
15th Oct, Home v RSA: 7-38 L
5th Nov, Away v WHS: 28-7 L
12th Nov, Home v ANT: 36-5 W
19th Nov, Home v ENN: 22-12 W
3rd Dec, Home v DRO: 31-5 W
10th Dec, Away v OMA: 51-7 L
31st Dec, Home v RSD: 14-22 L

Rainey ES (RES)
10th Sep, Away v REG: 45-31 L
17th Sep, Home v DAL: 12-12 D
28th Sep, Home v FLC: 52-0 W
1st Oct, Away v PDC: 19-31 W
7th Oct, Home v ENN: 3-7 L
22nd Oct, Home v LIM: 42-0 W
29th Oct, Home v CMB: 28-26 W
5th Nov, Away v RSD: 38-14 L
12th Nov, Home v DRO: 15-5 W
24th Nov, Away v OMA: 17-5 L
3rd Dec, Home v RSA: 0-28 L
10th Dec, Away v FSL: 41-19 L
17th Dec, Home v SUL: 20-17 W
28th Dec, Away v BANB: 7-13 W

RBAI (RBAI)
1st Oct, Home v BCL: 46-3 W
8th Oct, Home v COL: 27-10 W
15th Oct, Home v MCB: 26-5 W
19th Oct, Away v DWN: 12-36 W
16th Nov, Away v CCB: 15-28 W
17th Dec, Away v WHS: 10-19 W
28th Dec, Home v BGS: 52-5 W
30th Dec, Away v OMA: 5-40 W

Regent House (REG)
10th Sep, Home v RES: 45-31 W
17th Sep, Away v ENN: 22-5 L
24th Sep, Home v COL: 19-43 L
1st Oct, Home v DRO: 12-15 L
8th Oct, Home v CCB: 0-32 L
15th Oct, Away v GRO: 12-15 W
5th Nov, Home v CMB: 24-11 W
19th Nov, Home v DWN: 5-34 L
3rd Dec, Away v BEL: 0-31 W
10th Dec, Away v RSD: 26-7 L

RS Armagh (RSA)
10th Sep, Away v BGS: 7-24 W
14th Sep, Away v BANB: 0-34 W
24th Sep, Away v ENN: 8-5 L
28th Sep, Home v RSD: 29-10 W
1st Oct, Home v DWN: 21-5 W
15th Oct, Away v PDC: 7-38 W
22nd Oct, Away v OMA: 26-18 L
12th Nov, Home v WHS: 5-12 L
19th Nov, Home v BEL: 48-0 W
3rd Dec, Away v RES: 0-28 W
10th Dec, Home v GRO: 49-22 W
17th Dec, Away v BRA: 15-13 L
31st Dec, Home v SUL: 40-22 W

RS Dungannon (RSD)
24th Sep, Away v GRO: 13-7 L
28th Sep, Away v RSA: 29-10 L
1st Oct, Home v FLC: 34-3 W
8th Oct, Away v OMA: 17-10 L
15th Oct, Home v ENN: 10-22 L
22nd Oct, Away v BRA: 12-17 W
5th Nov, Home v RES: 38-14 W
12th Nov, Away v LUR: 0-6 W
19th Nov, Home v DRO: 29-5 W
28th Nov, Away v COL: 30-26 L
3rd Dec, Home v BANB: 34-5 W
10th Dec, Home v REG: 26-7 W
17th Dec, Away v DWN: 34-7 L
31st Dec, Away v PDC: 14-22 W

Strabane Academy (STR)
14th Sep, Away v FLC: 57-0 L
5th Oct, Away v OMA*: 12-0 L
3rd Dec, Home v CAR: 17-0 W (c1)

Sullivan Upper (SUL)
10th Sep, Away v MCB: 12-5 L^
17th Sep, Away v BANB: 10-28 W
24th Sep, Away v DWN: 7-0 L
1st Oct, Home v BRA: 27-5 W
8th Oct, Away v DAL: 12-62 W
15th Oct, Home v WHS: 3-0 W
22nd Oct, Home v BMA: 0-17 L
16th Nov, Away v LIM: 5-31 W
30th Nov, Away v WHS: 19-5 L
10th Dec, Home v DWN: 7-33 L
17th Dec, Away v RES: 20-17 L
31st Dec, Away v RSA: 40-22 L

Wallace HS (WHS)
10th Sep, Home v BMA: 64-14 W
24th Sep, Home v CCB: 14-7 W
1st Oct, Home v LIM: 58-5 W
8th Oct, Away v BRA: 17-19 W
15th Oct, Away v SUL: 3-0 L
26th Oct, Away v BCL: 17-31 W
5th Nov, Home v PDC: 28-7 W
12th Nov, Away v RSA: 5-12 W
19th Nov, Home v OMA: 31-7 W
26th Nov, Home v MCB: 12-5 W
30th Nov, Home v SUL: 19-5 W
17th Dec, Home v RBAI: 10-19 L
28th Dec, Home v COL: 33-0 W 

Wellington College (WEL)
10th Sep, Home v ANT: 7-7 D
17th Sep, Home v LAR: 27-7 W
1st Oct, Home v LUR: 0-35 L
12th Nov, Away v FSL: 55-0 L
19th Nov, Away v BANB: 21-0 L
26th Nov, Away v ANT: 26-0 L
28th Dec, Away v LAR: 17-28 W

* Played as/against ‘Select’ squad
^ Match abandoned after halftime


FAQS

Every season people ask questions about these calculations and we welcome them as, in the past, it has helped us to improve the system. Feel free to post your queries, but you may find an answer to one of our FAQs below:

What is the point of the ranking system? This system was mainly designed so that every one of the 32 teams involved with Ulster Schools’ 1stXV rugby could be ranked using the data available, without the need for every team to have played against every other.

How is the ranking calculated for each team? The three biggest factors taken into account are each team’s win percentage (number of wins, draws, and losses), opponent rating (the strength of sides faced) and competitive rating (their progression within the various competitions), alongside penalties for inactivity which prevent less active schools being ranked higher than they deserve. The formula produces a score for each team using these factors which then allows us to rank them in order from 1 to 32.

How are these figures actually used to rank the teams? Teams are placed in order firstly by score then by competitive rating, then by form and finally, opponent strength. If there is a still a tie at this point other factors such as head-to-head record, competitive match-ups and inactivity penalties may be taken into account, but it is unlikely that this would be needed, and has so far proven to be so.

Are points/tries for/against taken into account? YES. This is a big change brought in last season which means not only W, D and Ls are important but how they are achieved matters too (although to a lesser extent). Points are now added/subtracted depending on a team’s points difference per game and the opponents these points were scored against.

Hey, my team defeated that one! Should we not be above them? Not necessarily: the ranking for each team is based on the season as a whole, not a head-to-head basis, so often teams can be ranked below those which they have beaten. Don’t worry though, if you’re truly better than they are it will show eventually!

What does the score for each team represent? The score shown beside each team is a measure of performance. This is a number between 0 to approx. 1000; the higher the number the better the performance. This allows teams to be compared week-on-week and even season-on season as the same score in any two weeks represents the exact same level of performance.

So then, what does the rating of each team represent? The decimal rating assigned to each team represents a calculated estimation of that team’s ability. To put it another way, if every team played every other in a full season, the number shown is what win percentage would be expected of each team, given the data available. This is why teams’ ratings change week-on-week even if they haven’t played; it is a comparison with the ability of every other team.

How is opponent strength calculated? Previously, an average was taken across the season as a whole up to that point, but now the average is calculated using the strength of opponent dependant on how strong they were when they actually played the team in question. This has led to a more accurate representation of a team’s performance and stops the situation whereby a team could see their performance improved/downgraded without actually playing that week.

How do inactivity penalties work? Penalties for inactivity accumulate from week to week if a school does not take part in a representative fixture and are factored in to the calculation by lowering the a team’s opponent rating. This helps to prevent schools being unfairly ranked above others as sometimes happened with the original system.

What about abandoned games? The result of an abandoned game will be taken into account when more than one half has been played and if one team is winning by seven points or greater when it is stopped; if either one of these conditions is not met the teams involved will only be awarded any points scored during the course of the game.


2 responses to “Schools: 1st XV Rankings 2016/17 – End of 2016”

  1. Mark Hermib

    17th December – Carrickfergus Grammar 3-31 Antrim Grammar

    1. Nathan

      Thanks Mark; changes made!

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