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Posted: 14 November 2006

THE BIG MATCH: ANNUAL COLOURS 2006

Fixture:       Dublin University v UCD
Date:           Friday 17th November 2006
Venue:         Donnybrook
Kick Off:       6.30pm

Many UCD and Trinity players see the Annual Colours as a cup final. They consider it to be as important as any league match or schools match they have played. A huge amount of prestige is attached to the fixture because it is an Intervarsity game steeped in tradition with the inaugural match having taken place in 1952. Both teams have had a difficult start to their AIB league campaigns and will look forward to the match to keep the momentum going during the AIB League break. Coupled with the historic rivalry between the two Universities in the academic field, there will be a huge sense of expectancy on the night and quite a build up ot this years 55th Annual Colours match between Dublin University and UCD.

More importantly, the annual colours is the highlight for many of the students who will be selected to the respective squads.  This fixture has always been and will always be exciting as it sets the stage for the top two University clubs in Ireland.  Both clubs are extremely successful at Under 20 level and have met on a regular basis in finals over the years.  In 2005/2006, UCD narrowly beat Trinity to win the Under 20A JP Fanagan League and the Under 20B Brian Purcell Cup.  With many Under 20 players graduating to the senior sides this year the scene has been set for a tense and exciting match.  Trinity will be looking for revenge for their Under 20 losses and for the 25 – 13 beating in the colours last year.

The fixture is probably the only game they will play under floodlights during the year which adds to the atmosphere on the night.  Since rugby turned professional in 1995 the game has become faster and more physical.  The same could be said for the colours and makes for great viewing.  Last year UCD retained the trophy for the tenth year in a row with a convincing 25 – 13 win over Trinity.  Even though UCD have been unbeaten in ten years, there was a highly exciting encounter in 2004 with a 21-21 draw and equal AIB League points to both sides.  Also in 2003, Trinity were in Division 3 of the league and UCD in Division 1 but UCD only managed to win by 17-12.  Trinity will be determined to break the deadlock this year and will be out in full force to bring the colours trophy back to Dublin 2.

Dublin University FC: Establised 1854
AIB League Status:  Division 2
Captain: Brian Hastings (Wesley College graduate, studied BESS in Trinity.  Represented Ireland Under 19 in the 2002 World Cup and Munster Under 21 in 2003. Senior squad member since 2003 and plays centre or out-half).
DUFC International Caps 2005/2006: Ireland Under 21 (Matt D’Arcy and Paul Doran Jones) and Under 19 and Under 19 World Cup (Shane Monahan).

University College Dublin RFC: Established 1910
AIB League Status:  Division 1
Captain:  Conor Geoghegan  (Educated at St. Michaels College and completed his studies in Engineering. Represented Leinster and Ireland at schools and U21 levels and was a member of the Ireland squad that reached the U21 World Cup final in 2004).
International Caps 2005/2006: Ireland 'A' squad (Robert Kearney and Ronan McCormack), Under 21 squad (Fergus McFadden and Sean O’Brien) and Under 19 squad and Under 19 World Cup (Ian Keatley, David Gilchrist, Conor McInerney, Kevin Sheahan and Richard Sweeney). 


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