Castle Sports World organises the annual Royal Castle Cup at the ex-international venue Downpatrick Cricket Club, in association with AdRi Ventures and Royal Challengers Belfast.
Castle Sports World is also one of the main sponsors of the Royal Premier League — a yearly all-UK and Ireland tournament organised by Royal Challengers Belfast since 2021.
These tournaments attract teams from across the UK and Ireland, offering a £1,000 cash prize and impressive 5-foot rolling trophies.
Annual Flagship Tournament
The much-anticipated Royal Premier League Cricket Tournament (RPL) Season 4, hosted by the Royal Challengers Belfast, is set to bring excitement and competitive spirit to cricket fans this September. This season will see an action-packed T10 format played across two weekends towards the end of September. All fixtures will be held at the Downpatrick Cricket Grounds, a central venue for fans to enjoy.
Eight teams have been officially confirmed for this year’s edition. The league maintains a balanced structure for 2024, with hopes of expanding beyond eight teams in Season 5.
The teams will be divided into two groups: Group Gold and Group Bold.
Each team will contest two group-stage matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. Winners progress to the final, while the losing semi-finalists will battle for third place on Sunday, September 14th.
Beyond cricket, RPL promises a festival atmosphere, featuring:
Whether you’re a player, supporter, or business, there’s a place for you at RPL 2025.
About Royal Challengers Belfast: Founded in 2021, Royal Challengers Belfast is a registered social sports club dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and community engagement through sport. The club works closely with the Northern Cricket Union and local clubs across Northern Ireland.
Downpatrick — In a significant boost to cricket in Northern Ireland, Castle Sports World successfully hosted the inaugural AdRi’s Royal Castle Cup 2026 – T10, a vibrant and highly competitive outdoor Tape ball tournament that brought together emerging talent and established club players from across the region and England.
Organised in association with Royal Challengers Belfast and Downpatrick Cricket Club 1849 cricket grounds, the tournament marked a landmark moment for community-driven cricket, showcasing both sporting excellence and strong regional collaboration. The event was powered by AdRi Ventures in partnership with Samosa King Cafe by Namaste Belfast, with international backing from India-based partners Visionary Minds.
Awarded £500 cash prize and the prestigious 40 inch rolling trophy.
Awarded £200 cash prize and 35 inch tall runner-up trophy.
The tournament celebrated outstanding performances:
Six teams competed in the fast-paced T10 format:
The final proved to be a fitting climax to the tournament, delivering a closely fought and high-scoring contest that kept spectators engaged throughout.
Batting first, Royal Eagles, Belfast set the tone with an impressive total of 128 runs, demonstrating aggressive stroke play and composure under pressure. Their innings laid a strong foundation in what would become a tense finale.
In response, United Kent Cricket Club (England) mounted a determined chase, showcasing resilience and attacking intent. Despite their best efforts and a spirited performance, they ultimately fell short of the target, handing Royal Eagles a well-earned victory.
The smooth execution of the tournament was made possible through meticulous coordination and dedicated officiating. The entire event was coordinated by Ravi Ningegowda of AdRi Ventures.
The presentation ceremony was conducted by Jeff Maguire of Castle Sports World in presence of Downpatrick Cricket Club president Norman Ferguson.
Ravi Ningegowda extended sincere appreciation to all teams, sponsors, officials, and supporters whose contributions were instrumental in the success of the event and special thanks to Downpatrick Cricket Club committee members.
The AdRi’s Royal Castle Cup 2026 not only highlighted the competitive spirit of grassroots cricket but also reinforced the importance of community engagement and international collaboration in the sport.
