Ireland national rugby union team

Ireland
Shirt badge/Association crest
EmblemShamrock with rugby ball
UnionIrish Rugby Football Union
Head coachAndy Farrell
CaptainCaelan Doris
Most capsCian Healy (133)
Brian O'Driscoll (133)
Top scorerJohnny Sexton (1,108)
Top try scorerBrian O'Driscoll (46)
Home stadiumAviva Stadium
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current2 (as of 18 November 2024)
Highest1 (2019, 2022–2023, 2024)
Lowest9 (2013)
First international
 England 7–0 Ireland 
(Kennington, England; 15 February 1875)
Biggest win
 United States 3–83 Ireland 
(Manchester, New Hampshire; 10 June 2000)
Biggest defeat
 New Zealand 60–0 Ireland 
(Hamilton, New Zealand; 23 June 2012)
World Cup
Appearances10 (First in 1987)
Best resultQuarter-finals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
Websitewww.irishrugby.ie

The Ireland national rugby union team (Irish: Foireann rugbaí náisiúnta na hÉireann) is the men's representative national team for the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team represents both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Ireland competes in the annual Six Nations Championship and in the Rugby World Cup. Ireland is one of the four unions that make up the British & Irish Lions – players eligible to play for Ireland are also eligible for the Lions.

The Ireland national team dates to 1875, when it played its first international match against England. Ireland reached number 1 in the World Rugby Rankings for the first time in 2019;[1] the team returned to number 1 for a second time on 18 July 2022 and did not relinquish the top spot until 2 October 2023.[2] Eleven former Ireland players have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

  1. ^ Farrell, Sean (7 September 2019). "'It's a nice label to get,' says Schmidt as Ireland summit World Rugby rankings". the42.ie. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Men World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 2 October 2023.