▁were ▁always ▁pre - em inent ▁and ▁there ▁or ▁there about s ▁when ▁it ▁came ▁to ▁the ▁tro phy ▁present ations . ▁ ▁The ▁modern - day ▁Rugby ▁League ▁Ireland ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁initially ▁in ▁Le in ster ▁and ▁Mun ster ▁con ferences , ▁prior ▁to ▁this ▁the ▁competition ▁was ▁known ▁as ▁Ireland ▁Rugby ▁League , ▁though ▁after ▁a ▁season ▁the ▁league ▁revert ed ▁to ▁a ▁national ▁competition ▁for ▁two ▁seasons ▁before ▁the ▁con ferences ▁were ▁re int rodu ced ▁for ▁ 2 0 0 4 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁the ▁Le in ster ▁and ▁Mun ster ▁con ferences ▁were ▁abandoned ▁in ▁favour ▁of ▁an ▁all - I reland ▁league , ▁but ▁conference ▁play ▁was ▁re int rodu ced ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁season , ▁this ▁time ▁on ▁a ▁North / S outh ▁basis , ▁below ▁the ▁El ite ▁division . ▁ ▁For ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁two ▁national ▁divisions ▁operate , ▁the ▁Car neg ie ▁League ▁and ▁the ▁Emer ald ▁Rugby ▁National ▁Conference . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁the ▁Emer ald ▁National ▁Conference ▁has ▁been ▁replaced ▁by ▁the ▁Emer ald ▁League ▁run ▁on ▁a ▁mer it ▁league ▁basis ▁. ▁However , ▁the ▁Emer ald ▁League ▁is ▁unlikely ▁to ▁run ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁and ▁it ▁is ▁hoped ▁it ▁will ▁run ▁in ▁the ▁future . ▁Also ▁a ▁separate ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁league ▁has ▁been ▁re - est ab lished . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1