CAI / CGS Rugby History

Coleraine Grammar School opened in 2015 after the amalgamation of two  schools in the town. The founding boys’ school was Coleraine Academical Institution which was first opened in 1860 and they joined with Coleraine High School which was established in 1874.

Coleraine Inst. have competed in the Ulster Schools’ Cup, the second oldest rugby competition in the world, since it started in 1876, winning it in 1884, 1886, 1887, 1894, 1897,1920, 1925, 1939 and 1992. On top of this they have appeared in the final 25 times and this year CGS reached the Subsidiary Shield Final. The Medallion Shield, for Y11 pupils,  is the second most prestigious tournament in the province and the school is the third most successful team in that competition. In 2026 the CGS side narrowly lost out in the semi-final of that competition. Some of those players will be competing again this year and that team, the U14 team, have beaten every side in Ulster this year and won the prestigious O’Kane trophy.

Individually the school has been very successful as well with players representing Ulster, Ireland and the British Lions. The Beamish brothers, for example,  represented Ireland and the British Lions between the two World Wars, and more recently Ulster players have included Chris Cochrane, Jonny Shiels and Rory Telfer. Clarke Logan is currently training with Ulster and there are several boys and girls representing Ulster at age-grade levels.