The competition starts with each respective region's tournament. The number of teams that participate in each region varies, with some regions larger/smaller than others (This can lead to imbalance, meaning regions have been re-organised over the years.) Then, the 15 eventual regional winners play an inter-regional round - usually against the winners of a neighbouring region - the winners of which participate in the national finals to contest the Schools' Challenge shield. The runners-up of the School Challenge competition also receive a smaller shield. Teams who lose in the first round of the national final contest (the quarter-finals) enter the repechage contest for the Schools' Challenge Plate. Finals are contested in a single day, normally the last Sunday in April for the Senior competition and the third or fourth Sunday in June for the Junior competition, at a central venue.