2012 Christy Ring Cup
A total of eight teams contested the Christy Ring Cup, including seven sides from the 2011 Christy Ring Cup and London, who were promoted as champions of the 2011 Nicky Rackard Cup. London again ended the season as champions, this time in the Christy Ring Cup, thus securing promotion to the top tier of hurling, the All-Ireland Championship, in 2013. While both Armagh and Mayo had failed to win any of their (two) games in the 2011 Christy Ring Cup, Mayo retained their place in the 2012 edition with Armagh being relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2012 without a playoff game; Mayo had the longest tenure as a Christy Ring Cup member having competed in every season since the inaugural one in 2005 while Armagh had only joined the Christy Ring Cup in 2011, having won the previous year's Nicky Rackard Cup. The tournament has a double elimination format - each team will play at least two games before being knocked out.
Teams
The 2012 Christy Ring Cup was the eighth season of the Christy Ring Cup since its establishment in 2005.