|
The Ireland national rugby union team is unusual in international sport in that it represents both political entities on the island of Ireland: the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. They play their home games at Lansdowne Road in Dublin but in the past they have played home games in Belfast, Northern Ireland. At one time a rival 'North of Ireland' Union existed, but thankfully the two different unions managed to resolve their differences and merge.
The national anthem of the Republic of Ireland, Amhrán na bhFiann, is played only for games played in the Republic; the neutral Ireland's Call is always used either alongside or instead of the national anthem. Also, the tricolour of the Republic is not used. Instead, a quartered flag with symbols representing the four provinces of Ireland is flown, and the standard of the island's rugby governing body, the Irish Rugby Football Union, is displayed on the field during pre-match ceremonies.
Although the Irish Football Union (renamed Irish Rugby Football Union after unification with the North of Ireland 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 times, 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 Malcolm O'Kelly, 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.
Famous players
See also
External links
| 
