Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 2018/19 – Week 8

[pullquote]It was Round 2 of the Cup this weekend which means the table sees most of its activity in the lower half as we look at Week 8 of the rankings [/pullquote]

Summary // Table // Scores // FAQs

Down HS (17) as they achieved an emphatic victory over Carrickfergus GS (31) who had made it to this fixture via the first round. The other big scorer of this round, Belfast HS (26), improve one place with their result which also came against a qualifier from round 1, namely Strabane Academy (32).

The highest movers from round 2 are Regent House (20) who improved one spot after their hard-fought away win at Dromore HS (23), who drop one place as a result, while Larne GS (22) are the next improvers from that round as they too had a close away win against Limavady GS (27), again the defeated team losing one place on last week.

For the full competitive results and subsequent draws CLICK HERE

Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 2018/19 – Week 8

  Team Win Ratio Opponent Rating Score Season Rating Previous Position
1 Methodist College 1.000 0.562 746 0.956 1
2 Wallace HS 0.808 0.604 647 0.854 2
3 RS Armagh 0.786 0.562 607 0.811 3
4 Enniskillen Royal 0.833 0.484 573 0.774 4
5 Sullivan Upper 0.667 0.613 562 0.760 6
6 Ballymena Academy 0.643 0.572 517 0.713 5
7 RBAI 0.500 0.655 485 0.677 7
8 Campbell College 0.545 0.581 472 0.661 8
9 Portadown College 0.636 0.578 469 0.655 9
10 Belfast Royal Academy 0.600 0.587 458 0.641 10
11 RS Dungannon 0.571 0.525 404 0.585 11
12 Rainey ES 0.538 0.553 404 0.582 12
13 Dalriada 0.692 0.417 402 0.577 13
14 Ballyclare HS 0.538 0.506 368 0.540 14
15 Coleraine GS 0.438 0.582 349 0.518 15
16 Omagh Academy 0.406 0.598 339 0.505 16
17 Down HS 0.545 0.509 323 0.486 17
18 Friends’ School 0.600 0.443 314 0.473 18
19 Bangor GS 0.357 0.594 306 0.463 19
20 Regent House 0.455 0.528 274 0.428 21
21 Cambridge House 0.536 0.404 263 0.414 20
22 Larne GS 0.600 0.345 252 0.400 23
23 Dromore HS 0.385 0.505 225 0.370 22
24 Lurgan College 0.545 0.289 195 0.337 25
25 Grosvenor GS 0.286 0.505 180 0.319 24
26 Belfast HS 0.300 0.435 163 0.299 27
27 Limavady GS 0.318 0.404 152 0.285 26
28 Wellington College 0.333 0.299 132 0.263 29
29 Banbridge Academy 0.167 0.513 107 0.234 28
30 Foyle College 0.125 0.576 97 0.221 30
31 Carrickfergus GS 0.154 0.383 83 0.204 31
32 Strabane Academy 0.400 0.128 72 0.191 32
33 Antrim GS 0.000 0.350 0 0.110 33

 

Ulster Schools Rugby Scores

Given below, to the best of our knowledge, is a full list of results for each Ulster Schools Rugby 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)
8th Sep, Away v WEL: 28-8 L
12th Sep, Home v RSA*: 24-40 L
22nd Sep, Away v LUR: 27-12 L
29th Sep, Home v DAL: 12-76 L
6th Oct, Away v CMB: 56-7 L
20th Oct, Away v LAR: 50-14 L
15th Dec, Home v CAR: 10-24 L (c1)
12th Jan, Away v WEL: 56-7 L (t1)

Ballyclare HS (BCL)
1st Sep, Away v BMA: 26-12 L
8th Sep, Away v BRA: 11-12 W
15th Sep, Home v CCB: 10-24 L
26th Sep, Home v RBAI: 3-57 L
6th Oct, Away v BEL: 7-59 W
13th Oct, Away v BGS: 12-7 L
24th Oct, Home v GRO: 42-7 W
10th Nov, Home v CMB: 29-19 W
17th Nov, Home v BGS: 20-28 L
24th Nov, Home v DAL: 26-24 W
1st Dec, Away v FSL: 25-32 W
8th Dec, Home v MCB: 0-38 L
5th Jan, Home v RES: 41-19 W

Ballymena Academy (BMA)
1st Sep, Home v BCL: 26-12 W
8th Sep, Away v WHS: 19-16 L
22nd Sep, Home v BGS: 33-14 W
29th Sep, Away v COL: 13-15 W
6th Oct, Away v MCB: 54-8 L
13th Oct, Home v BRA: 10-8 W
14th Nov, Away v RES: 22-24 W
24th Nov, Away v DWN: 16-48 W
30th Nov, Away v WHS: 10-3 L
7th Dec, Home v CCB: 8-7 W
15th Dec, Home v DAL: 5-0 W
29th Dec, Home v WHS: 30-12 W
5th Jan, Home v RSA: 6-14 L
12th Jan, Away v SUL: 35-17 L

Banbridge Academy (BANB)
21st Sep, Away v OMA: 59-0 L
29th Sep, Home v ENN: 0-41 L
6th Oct, Away v LUR: 12-38 W
13th Oct, Away v LIM: 5-14 W
20th Oct, Home v COL: 0-26 L
24th Oct, Away v DRO: 37-15 L
17th Nov, Home v FSL: 3-35 L
23rd Nov, Home v GRO: 5-28 L
1st Dec, Away v RSD: 43-0 L
8th Dec, Home v BRA: 12-50 L
29th Dec, Home v LUR: 15-43 L
12th Jan, Away v CMB: 11-10 L (c2)

Bangor GS (BGS)
8th Sep, Home v RSA: 7-12 L
22nd Sep, Away v BMA: 33-14 L
29th Sep, Home v BEL: 66-24 W
6th Oct, Away v SUL: 33-10 L
13th Oct, Home v BCL: 12-7 W
24th Oct, Away v CCB: 42-40 L
27th Oct, Away v COL: 23-12 L
3rd Nov, Home v BRA: 26-33 L
17th Nov, Away v BCL: 20-28 W
24th Nov, Away v FSL: 29-47 W
1st Dec, Away v DAL: 24-10 L
8th Dec, Home v WHS: 0-31 L
15th Dec, Home v DRO: 33-0 W
22nd Dec, Away v RBAI: 40-17 L

Belfast HS (BEL)
15th Sep, Home v CAR: 43-7 W
22nd Sep, Home v PDC: 24-43 L
29th Sep, Away v BGS: 66-24 L
6th Oct, Home v BCL: 7-59 L
13th Oct, Away v LAR: 28-12 L
20th Oct, Home v FSL: 15-40 L
17th Nov, Away v CAR: 5-10 W
1st Dec, Home v REG: 19-29 L
5th Jan, Home v GRO: 22-30 L
12th Jan, Home v STR: 45-12 W (c2)

Belfast Royal Academy (BRA)
8th Sep, Home v BCL: 11-12 L
15th Sep, Home v LIM: 62-0 W
22nd Sep, Away v MCB: 33-13 L
29th Sep, Away v SUL: 26-16 L
6th Oct, Home v WHS: 15-45 L
13th Oct, Away v BMA: 10-8 L
3rd Nov, Away v BGS: 26-33 W
10th Nov, Home v DWN: 19-23 L
17th Nov, Away v DAL: 12-28 W
24th Nov, Away v REG: 9-53 W
1st Dec, Home v COL: 39-22 W
8th Dec, Away v BANB: 12-50 W
19th Dec, Home v RSA: 12-10 W
28th Dec, Home v CCB: 19-17 W
5th Jan, Home v ENN: 22-19 W

Cambridge House (CMB)
8th Sep, Home v COL: 26-26 D
15th Sep, Away v FSL: 53-3 L
22nd Sep, Home v DAL: 0-31 L
6th Oct, Home v ANT: 56-7 W
13th Oct, Away v CAR: 18-24 W
20th Oct, Away v DAL: 26-7 L
27th Oct, Away v RES: 53-14 L
10th Nov, Away v BCL: 29-19 L
17th Nov, Away v LIM: 3-41 W
24th Nov, Home v DRO: 22-25 L
1st Dec, Home v LUR: 49-0 W
20th Dec, Away v FLC: 15-31 W
5th Jan, Home v CAR: 61-10 W
12th Jan, Home v BANB: 11-10 W (c2)

Campbell College Belfast (CCB)
15th Sep, Away v BCL: 10-24 W
22nd Sep, Away v WHS: 31-14 L
3rd Oct, Away v REG: 17-43 W
13th Oct, Home v COL: 20-5 W
24th Oct, Home v BGS: 42-40 W
10th Nov, Away v GRO: 13-33 W
16th Nov, Home v RBAI: 30-13 W
23rd Nov, Home v SUL: 15-16 L
30th Nov, Home v MCB: 14-26 L
7th Dec, Away v BMA: 8-7 L
28th Dec, Away v BRA: 19-17 L

Carrickfergus GS (CAR)
8th Sep, Home v LAR: 0-7 L
15th Sep, Away v BEL: 43-7 L
22nd Sep, Away v LIM: 16-10 L
29th Sep, Home v LUR: 25-5 W
6th Oct, Away v FLC: 22-10 L
13th Oct, Home v CMB: 18-24 L
20th Oct, Away v GRO: 36-15 L
17th Nov, Home v BEL: 5-10 L
24th Nov, Away v LAR: 36-0 L
28th Nov, Away v WEL: 29-19 L
15th Dec, Away v ANT: 10-24 W (c1)
5th Jan, Away v CMB: 61-10 L
12th Jan, Home v DWN: 3-55 L (c2)

Coleraine GS (COL)
8th Sep, Away v CMB: 26-26 D
15th Sep, Home v OMA: 10-10 D
29th Sep, Home v BMA: 13-15 L
6th Oct, Home v RBAI: 6-15 L
13th Oct, Away v CCB: 20-5 L
20th Oct, Away v BANB: 0-26 W
27th Oct, Home v BGS: 23-12 W
10th Nov, Away v ENN: 19-8 L
17th Nov, Away v MCB: 45-0 L
24th Nov, Home v RSD: 29-24 W
1st Dec, Away v BRA: 39-22 L
4th Dec, Away v FLC: 7-49 W
8th Dec, Home v RES: 27-14 W
22nd Dec, Away v WHS: 24-5 L
5th Jan, Home v SUL: 17-14 W
12th Jan, Away v RSA: 28-7 L

Dalriada (DAL)
8th Sep, Away v GRO: 14-31 W
15th Sep, Away v RES: 56-7 L
22nd Sep, Away v CMB: 0-31 W
29th Sep, Away v ANT: 12-76 W
13th Oct, Home v FLC: 48-0 W
17th Oct, Home v LAR: 59-0 W
20th Oct, Home v CMB: 26-7 W
10th Nov, Home v REG: 36-0 W
17th Nov, Home v BRA: 12-28 L
24th Nov, Away v BCL: 26-24 L
1st Dec, Home v BGS: 24-10 W
8th Dec, Home v LIM: 52-0 W
15th Dec, Away v BMA: 5-0 L

Down HS (DWN)
8th Sep, Away v OMA: 15-18 W
15th Sep, Away v GRO: 10-36 W
22nd Sep, Home v SUL: 3-28 L
29th Sep, Away v RSA: 52-19 L
6th Oct, Home v PDC: 17-37 L
13th Oct, Away v DRO: 0-52 W
10th Nov, Away v BRA: 19-23 W
17th Nov, Away v REG: 22-44 W
24th Nov, Home v BMA: 16-48 L
8th Dec, Home v FSL: 13-37 L
12th Jan, Away v CAR: 3-55 W (c2)

Dromore HS (DRO)
15th Sep, Home v LUR: 34-7 W
26th Sep, Home v FSL: 15-23 L
29th Sep, Away v REG: 55-12 L
13th Oct, Home v DWN: 0-52 L
20th Oct, Home v PDC: 0-56 L
24th Oct, Home v BANB: 37-15 W
10th Nov, Away v RES: 40-7 L
17th Nov, Away v RSD: 38-12 L
24th Nov, Away v CMB: 22-25 W
1st Dec, Home v LAR: 33-0 W
15th Dec, Away v BGS: 33-0 L
29th Dec, Home v GRO: 24-21 W
12th Jan, Home v REG: 8-10 L (c2)

Enniskillen Royal (ENN)
8th Sep, Home v FLC: 40-0 W
15th Sep, Home v REG: 34-0 W
22nd Sep, Home v RSA: 11-7 W
29th Sep, Away v BANB: 0-41 W
6th Oct, Away v RES: 15-7 L
13th Oct, Away v RSD: 10-35 W
20th Oct, Away v FLC: 0-31 W
10th Nov, Home v COL: 19-8 W
17th Nov, Away v PDC: 19-71 W
15th Dec, Home v OMA: 15-0 W
5th Jan, Away v BRA: 22-19 L
12th Jan, Away v OMA: 12-28 W

Foyle College (FLC)
8th Sep, Away v ENN: 40-0 L
22nd Sep, Home v RES: 0-28 L
29th Sep, Away v RSD: 40-17 L
3rd Oct, Home v LIM: 5-5 D
6th Oct, Home v CAR: 22-10 W
13th Oct, Away v DAL: 48-0 L
17th Oct, Home v LIM: 17-36 L
20th Oct, Home v ENN: 0-31 L
30th Nov, Away v OMA: 36-10 L
4th Dec, Home v COL: 7-49 L
20th Dec, Home v CMB: 15-31 L
12th Jan, Away v LUR: 13-8 L (c2)

Friends’ School Lisburn (FSL)
8th Sep, Away v RSD: 24-8 L
15th Sep, Home v CMB: 53-3 W
26th Sep, Away v DRO: 15-23 W
29th Sep, Away v LAR: 8-21 W
6th Oct, Home v GRO: 29-7 W
13th Oct, Home v OMA: 30-24 W
20th Oct, Away v BEL: 15-40 W
24th Oct, Home v RSD: 17-29 L
17th Nov, Away v BANB: 3-35 W
24th Nov, Home v BGS: 29-47 L
1st Dec, Home v BCL: 25-32 L
8th Dec, Away v DWN: 13-37 W
29th Dec, Home v SUL: 26-38 L
5th Jan, Away v PDC: 53-0 L
12th Jan, Away v GRO: 14-22 W (c2)

Grosvenor GS (GRO)
8th Sep, Home v DAL: 14-31 L
15th Sep, Home v DWN: 10-36 L
22nd Sep, Home v RSD: 0-40 L
6th Oct, Away v FSL: 29-7 L
13th Oct, Home v REG: 5-7 L
20th Oct, Home v CAR: 36-15 W
24th Oct, Away v BCL: 42-7 L
10th Nov, Home v CCB: 13-33 L
17th Nov, Home v LAR: 27-12 W
23rd Nov, Away v BANB: 5-28 W
8th Dec, Away v LUR: 12-7 L
29th Dec, Away v DRO: 24-21 L
5th Jan, Away v BEL: 22-30 W
12th Jan, Home v FSL: 14-22 L (c2)

Larne GS (LAR)
8th Sep, Away v CAR: 0-7 W
15th Sep, Home v WEL: 47-0 W
29th Sep, Home v FSL: 8-21 L
13th Oct, Home v BEL: 28-12 W
17th Oct, Away v DAL: 59-0 L
20th Oct, Home v ANT: 50-14 W
17th Nov, Away v GRO: 27-12 L
24th Nov, Home v CAR: 36-0 W
1st Dec, Away v DRO: 33-0 L
12th Jan, Away v LIM: 22-27 W (c2)

Limavady GS (LIM)
15th Sep, Away v BRA: 62-0 L
22nd Sep, Home v CAR: 16-10 W
3rd Oct, Away v FLC: 5-5 D
6th Oct, Home v STR: 37-22 W
13th Oct, Home v BANB: 5-14 L
17th Oct, Away v FLC: 17-36 W
7th Nov, Home v OMA: 0-39 L
14th Nov, Home v SUL*: 14-34 L
17th Nov, Home v CMB: 3-41 L
8th Dec, Away v DAL: 52-0 L
12th Jan, Home v LAR: 22-27 L (c2)

Lurgan College (LUR)
15th Sep, Away v DRO: 34-7 L
22nd Sep, Home v ANT: 27-12 W
29th Sep, Away v CAR: 25-5 L
6th Oct, Home v BANB: 12-38 L
10th Oct, Home v WEL: 39-21 W
27th Oct, Away v OMA: 13-12 L
1st Dec, Away v CMB: 49-0 L
4th Dec, Away v WEL: 7-12 W
8th Dec, Home v GRO: 12-7 W
29th Dec, Away v BANB: 15-43 W
12th Jan, Home v FLC: 13-8 W (c2)

Methodist College Belfast (MCB)
22nd Sep, Home v BRA: 33-13 W
28th Sep, Home v OMA: 41-8 W
6th Oct, Home v BMA: 54-8 W
13th Oct, Away v RBAI: 10-19 W
10th Nov, Home v SUL: 52-3 W
17th Nov, Home v COL: 45-0 W
24th Nov, Home v WHS: 38-8 W
30th Nov, Away v CCB: 14-26 W
8th Dec, Away v BCL: 0-38 W

Omagh Academy (OMA)
8th Sep, Home v DWN: 15-18 L
15th Sep, Away v COL: 10-10 D
21st Sep, Home v BANB: 59-0 W
28th Sep, Away v MCB: 41-8 L
6th Oct, Home v RSD: 17-16 W
13th Oct, Away v FSL: 30-24 L
20th Oct, Home v RSA: 8-39 L
24th Oct, Home v STR: 29-0 W
27th Oct, Home v LUR: 13-12 W
7th Nov, Away v LIM: 0-39 W
17th Nov, Away v WHS: 34-12 L
30th Nov, Home v FLC: 36-10 W
8th Dec, Away v PDC: 19-17 L
15th Dec, Away v ENN: 15-0 L
29th Dec, Away v RES: 29-8 L
12th Jan, Home v ENN: 12-28 L

Portadown College (PDC)
22nd Sep, Away v BEL: 24-43 W
29th Sep, Home v RES: 26-22 W
6th Oct, Away v DWN: 17-37 W
13th Oct, Home v RSA: 5-33 L
20th Oct, Away v DRO: 0-56 W
3rd Nov, Away v WHS: 44-24 L
17th Nov, Home v ENN: 19-71 L
24th Nov, Away* v WEL: 5-31 W
8th Dec, Home v OMA: 19-17 W
29th Dec, Away v RSD: 38-7 L
5th Jan, Home v FSL: 53-0 W

Rainey ES (RES)
8th Sep, Away v REG: 19-14 L
15th Sep, Home v DAL: 56-7 W
22nd Sep, Away v FLC: 0-28 W
29th Sep, Away v PDC: 26-22 L
6th Oct, Home v ENN: 15-7 W
27th Oct, Home v CMB: 53-14 W
5th Nov, Home v RSD: 21-12 W
10th Nov, Home v DRO: 40-7 W
14th Nov, Home v BMA: 22-24 L
1st Dec, Home v RSA: 6-26 L
8th Dec, Away v COL: 27-14 L
29th Dec, Home v OMA: 29-8 W
5th Jan, Away v BCL: 41-19 L

RBAI (RBAI)
26th Sep, Away v BCL: 3-57 W
6th Oct, Away v COL: 6-15 W
13th Oct, Home v MCB: 10-19 L
16th Nov, Away v CCB: 30-13 L
24th Nov, Home v RSA: 10-22 L
15th Dec, Away v WHS: 6-6 D
22nd Dec, Home v BGS: 40-17 W

Regent House (REG)
8th Sep, Home v RES: 19-14 W
15th Sep, Away v ENN: 34-0 L
29th Sep, Home v DRO: 55-12 W
3rd Oct, Home v CCB: 17-43 L
13th Oct, Away v GRO: 5-7 W
10th Nov, Away v DAL: 36-0 L
17th Nov, Home v DWN: 22-44 L
24th Nov, Home v BRA: 9-53 L
1st Dec, Away v BEL: 19-29 W
8th Dec, Away v RSD: 20-14 L
12th Jan, Away v DRO: 8-10 W (c2)

RS Armagh (RSA)
8th Sep, Away v BGS: 7-12 W
12th Sep, Away* v ANT: 24-40 W
22nd Sep, Away v ENN: 11-7 L
26th Sep, Away v RSD: 10-52 W
29th Sep, Home v DWN: 52-19 W
13th Oct, Away v PDC: 5-33 W
20th Oct, Away v OMA: 8-39 W
9th Nov, Home v WHS: 3-10 L
24th Nov, Away v RBAI: 10-22 W
1st Dec, Away v RES: 6-26 W
4th Dec, Home v SUL: 17-7 W
19th Dec, Away v BRA: 12-10 L
5th Jan, Away v BMA: 6-14 W
12th Jan, Home v COL: 28-7 W

RS Dungannon (RSD)
8th Sep, Home v FSL: 24-8 W
15th Sep, Home v SUL: 18-26 L
22nd Sep, Away v GRO: 0-40 W
26th Sep, Home v RSA: 10-52 L
29th Sep, Home v FLC: 40-17 W
6th Oct, Away v OMA: 17-16 L
13th Oct, Home v ENN: 10-35 L
24th Oct, Away v FSL: 17-29 W
5th Nov, Away v RES: 21-12 L
17th Nov, Home v DRO: 38-12 W
24th Nov, Away v COL: 29-24 L
1st Dec, Home v BANB: 43-0 W
8th Dec, Home v REG: 20-14 W
29th Dec, Home v PDC: 38-7 W

Strabane Academy (STR)
29th Sep, Away v WEL: 17-26 W
6th Oct, Away v LIM: 37-22 L
24th Oct, Away v OMA: 29-0 L
15th Dec, Home v WEL: 21-17 W (c1)
12th Jan, Away v BEL: 45-12 L (c2)

Sullivan Upper (SUL)
15th Sep, Away v RSD: 18-26 W
22nd Sep, Away v DWN: 3-28 W
29th Sep, Home v BRA: 26-16 W
6th Oct, Home v BGS: 33-10 W
13th Oct, Home v WHS: 15-24 L
10th Nov, Away v MCB: 52-3 L
14th Nov, Away* v LIM: 14-34 W
23rd Nov, Away v CCB: 15-16 W
4th Dec, Away v RSA: 17-7 L
29th Dec, Away v FSL: 26-38 W
5th Jan, Away v COL: 17-14 L
12th Jan, Home v BMA: 35-17 W

Wallace HS (WHS)
8th Sep, Home v BMA: 19-16 W
22nd Sep, Home v CCB: 31-14 W
6th Oct, Away v BRA: 15-45 W
13th Oct, Away v SUL: 15-24 W
3rd Nov, Home v PDC: 44-24 W
9th Nov, Away v RSA: 3-10 W
17th Nov, Home v OMA: 34-12 W
24th Nov, Away v MCB: 38-8 L
30th Nov, Home v BMA: 10-3 W
8th Dec, Away v BGS: 0-31 W
15th Dec, Home v RBAI: 6-6 D
22nd Dec, Home v COL: 24-5 W
29th Dec, Away v BMA: 30-12 L

Wellington College (WEL)
8th Sep, Home v ANT: 28-8 W
15th Sep, Away v LAR: 47-0 L
29th Sep, Home v STR: 17-26 L
10th Oct, Away v LUR: 39-21 L
24th Nov, Home v PDC*: 5-31 L
28th Nov, Home v CAR: 29-19 W
4th Dec, Home v LUR: 7-12 L
15th Dec, Away v STR: 21-17 L (c1)
12th Jan, Home v ANT: 56-7 W (t1)

* ‘Select’ squad
^ Match abandoned after halftime
# Match not played; bye recorded


Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 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 33 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: win percentage (number of wins, draws, and losses), opponent rating (the strength of sides faced), and competitive rating (their progression within the various competitions). Inactivity penalties are also scored thereby preventing less active schools being ranked higher than they deserve. The formula produces a score for each team using these factors which allows them to be ranked in order from 1 to 33.

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 a few seasons ago 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 point 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.


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