Home > Ireland national rugby union team

The national anthem of the Republic of Ireland, Amhrán na bhFiann, is played only for games played in the Republic of Ireland; the neutral Ireland's Call is always used either alongside or instead of the national anthem.

Although the Irish Rugby Football Union was not formed until 1874 club rugby had been played in the country for many years before that. Trinity College Dublin claims to be one of the oldest clubs in Ireland, having been formed in 1854.

Ireland played their first test match against England at the Oval in 1875, but it was not until 1881 that they first won a test, against Scotland at Ormeau in Belfast.

At international level Ireland have always been inconsistent. Grand Slam winners only once – in 1948 – they have won the 'Triple Crown' seven occasions, most recently in 2004. However they have finished bottom of the Championship table on 30 occasions. They have also failed to get past the quarterfinals at any of the four World Cups. Despite this they have some magnificent individual players with Mike Gibson, Willie John McBride and Fergus Slattery all winning over sixty International caps, Keith Wood winning the inaugural IRB World Player of the Year Award in 2001, and Brian O'Driscoll being arguably the top centre in the world today.

Ireland play in the Six Nations Championship, and in recent years have been the strongest of the Celtic nations. They were the first team to beat England following their World Cup win.

1 Famous players

• Gordon D'Arcy
• Mick Doyle ( 1941 - 2004)
• Mike Gibson
• David Humphreys
• Kevin Maggs
• Willie John McBride
• Geordan Murphy ( 1978Events January January 1 The Copyright Act of 1976 takes effect, making sweeping changes to United States copyright law. January 1 Air India's Boeing 747 explodes near Bombay 213 dead. January 4 Referendum in Chile supports policies of Augusto Pinochet. - )
• Brian O'DriscollBrian O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979 in Dublin) is the current captain of the Irish rugby union national team. He is a centre-back who plays club rugby for Leinster. He made his first appearance for Ireland in 1999, and established himself as one of rug ( 1979Events January-February January 1 Sino-American relations: United States and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations January 4 State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings. - )
• Ronan O'GaraRonan O'Gara (born 7 March 1977 in San Diego, California, USA) is an Irish fly-half (this is usually called Out half in Ireland) rugby player for both Munster and Ireland. He has been capped for the Lions on their tour to Australia in 2001. Other caps inc ( 1977For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). Events January 1 First woman Episcopal priest ordained January 6 EMI sacks the Sex Pistols January 18 Scientists identify a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious " legionnaire's disease" Januar - )
• Malcolm O'Kelly
• Tony O'ReillySir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly (born 7 May 1936) is an Irish businessman and one of the richest men in Ireland. He is most well known through his chairmanship of the Dublin-based Independent News & Media Group (INM). Tony O'Reilly was born in Dublin.
• Fergus Slattery
• Keith WoodKeith Wood (born 27 January 1972 in Limerick) is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, Harlequins and Munster. His father, Gordon Wood, played hooker for Ireland. He played on the 1997 and 2001 Lions tours, and was t ( 19721972 is a leap year starting on Saturday (click link for calendar). Events January events January 2 the Pierre Hotel Heist Six men rob the safety deposit boxes of the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Loot is at least $4 million January 5 President of the Un - )