Revamped Schools' Cup kicks-off

RBAI defeated Wallace High in last season's St Patrick Day final

The revamped Renault Ulster Schools' Cup gets under way on Saturday with four first round matches to be decided.

The winners will be joined by a further 20 schools when the second round draw is made on BBC Final Score this Saturday evening (1700GMT).

The third round draw on 17 January will see the four teams with the best records included in the last 16.

The leading quartet are Methody, Ballymena Acadamy, Royal School Armagh and Royal School Dungannon.

They came out on top when the statistics from the start of the current season up until Christmas were thoroughly analysed. This will be the same format each season.

Schools' Cup winners

There were at least seven schools vying to come in at the third round stage , but after in-depth look into performances, defending champions RBAI, Coleraine AI and Wallace High be in the second round draw.

Ballymena Academy are hot favourites to lift this year's trophy for the first time since 1981 having recorded an unbeaten record so far.

Armagh Royal are dark horses. They have a big pack four of which have Irish Schools' credentials.

The objectives of the new format were to avoid major mismatches in the competition and to extend the season in a meaningful way for more schools.

It is also hoped to develop the competition so that every school has a chance of winning something.

TOP SCHOOLS' CUP WINS 29: Methody 27: RBAI 22: Campbell Coll 9: Coleraine AI 8: Royal Armagh 6: Portora Royal 5: Bangor Grammar

The losing schools from the first round will compete in a round robin tournament for the Schools' Trophy.

Losers in Round 2 will be divided into four groups of three and will compete in the Schools' Bowl.

The remaining 16 teams will see eight teams go through to the main Ulster Schools' Cup competition, while the eight losers will enter the Schools' Shield competition.

All games in every round of each competition will be decided with an open draw.

Ulster Schools' Cup, first round:
Wellington College 31-10 Antrim Grammar
Down High School 13-0 Cambridge House
Dalriada 42-3 Lurgan College
Strabane Grammar v Friends