THE IRFU has announced the return of the Interprovincial Men’s ‘A’ Championship after over 20 years away.

The Union revealed it Leinster, Munster, Connachtand Ulster A sides will meet in a contest not seen since 2002.

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The Inter-Provincial Championship kicks off on November 16th with the meeting between the Connacht Eagles and Leinster ‘A’ at Creggs RFC.

And IRFU performance director David Humphreys highlighted it as a chance to further the development of players in the four provinces.

He said: “We are delighted to get the Men’s ‘A’ Inter-Provincial Championship underway which will give a host of players another avenue to develop in a meaningful competition.

“With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an A international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and club level with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture window.

“Discussions have been going on for some time to give players meaningful games and all four provinces unanimously support this competition.

“It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local clubs.

“It is expected that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures will not clash with Energia All-Ireland League matches for the most part, potentially also offering players from the club’s game an opportunity to impress.

“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for academy players upwards in the coming seasons.”

The scoring system will be similar to that for United Rugby Championship.

The first three rounds will take place before Christmas, with a championship winner crowned after the final round in May.

The IRFU will commission a trophy to mark the 150th anniversary of the governing body.

IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Matches:

Saturday, 16^Th November:

Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)

Friday, 22^n.d November:

Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)

Friday, 29^Th November:

Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)

Friday, 20^Th December:

Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)

Saturday, 21^St December:

Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)

Weekend 28/29 December:

Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

The weekend of 9/10 May:

Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend 16/17 May:

Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)