WITH Munster schools’ rugby set to move up through the gears, several West Cork teams are setting their sights on cup runs.

Earlier this week, the official launch of the 2025/26 Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup competitions took place, with West Cork schools making their presence felt and underlining the strength of schools rugby in the region right now.

In 2025, West Cork claimed three of the four cups on offer across the boys’ and girls’ senior and junior competitions. Sacred Heart Clonakilty completed a girls’ senior and junior cup double, while Bandon Grammar School captured the boys’ junior cup for the first time.

This year, Sacred Heart will target a three-in-a-row in the Pinergy Girls Schools U19 Munster Senior Cup. The question is who can stop the Clonakilty school? They face Coláiste Muire Ennis in the semi-final, while Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí meet Ursuline of Thurles in the other last-four clash.

In the Girls Schools U16 Munster Junior Cup, Skibbereen Community School were in action this week against Coláiste Muire Cobh, with Bandon Grammar School and Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí also competing.

In the Pinergy Boys Schools U19 Munster Senior Cup, Kinsale Community School take on Glenstal Abbey in a round-one tie in Dooradoyle, Limerick, on Thursday, while Bandon Grammar School face PBC in a round-two clash at Virgin Media Park on January 28th.

Meanwhile, in the Munster Schools Boys Junior Cup, Crescent College Comprehensive will entertain Kinsale Community School in Limerick in round one on January 21st. Reigning champions Bandon Grammar School advance straight to round-two action (semi-final qualifiers), where they will meet Christian Brothers College at Virgin Media Park.