Irish Rugby Football Union
Founded	1879
IRB affiliation	1886
FIRA-AER affiliation	1999
President	Peter Boyle (2006-)
Men's coach	Eddie O'Sullivan (2001-)
Women's coach	John O'Sullivan
Official website
www.irishrugby.ie

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office and grounds at Lansdowne Road, where Irish rugby union international matches are played. In addition the Union also owns Ravenhill in Belfast, Thomond Park in Limerick and a number of grounds in provincial areas that have been rented to clubs. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The IRB logo. ... The FIRA - Association Européenne de Rugby (FIRA–AER) was formed in 1999 to promote, develop, organise and administer the game of rugby in Europe under the authority of the International Rugby Board (the governing body of rugby union). ... OSullivan celebrating the 2004 Triple Crown with Irish captain Brian ODriscoll. ... See: John OSullivan, journalist, 19th century U.S. ambassador to Portugal, and supporter of Manifest Destiny. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland_rugby. ... A rugby union scrum. ... A DART train passes under the Lansdowne Road Rugby Football Stadium and over the level crossing as it enters the station of the same name. ... First international England 7 - 0 Ireland (15 February 1875) Largest win United States 3 - 83 Ireland (10 June , 2000) Worst defeat New Zealand 59 - 6 Ireland (6 June 1992) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Quarter Finals, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2003 The Ireland rugby union team, represents... Ravenhill Stadium is located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Statistics Province: Northern Ireland County: District: Belfast UK Parliament: Belfast North Belfast South Belfast East Belfast West European Parliament: Northern Ireland Dialling Code: 028, +44 28 posttown = Belfast Postal District(s): BT1-BT17, BT29 (part of), BT58 Area: 115 km² Population (2001) Website: www. ... Thomond Park is a stadium in Limerick, Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference R574572 Statistics Province: Munster County: Area: 20. ...

Initially there were two unions both founded in 1874. The Irish Football Union had jurisdiction over clubs in Leinster, Munster and parts of Ulster; the Northern Football Union of Ireland controlled the Belfast area. The IRFU was formed in 1879 as an amalgamation of the two different organisations and branches were formed in Leinster, Munster and Ulster. The Connacht Branch was formed in 1886.

Following the political partition of Ireland into separate national states the Republic of Ireland (originally the Irish Free State then Éire) and Northern Ireland (a political division of the United Kingdom), the then Committee of the Irish Rugby Football Union decided that it would continue to administer its affairs on the basis of the full 32 Irish counties and the traditional four provinces of Ireland: Leinster (12 counties), Ulster (9 counties), Munster (6 counties), and Connacht (5 counties). Northern Ireland (Irish: ) is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ...

This led to the unique situation among international rugby union teams, where the Irish representative teams are drawn from players from two separate political, national territories: the Republic of Ireland (an independent, sovereign state) and Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom). To maintain the unity of Irish rugby union and the linkages between North and South the IRFU purchased a new ground in 1923 in the Ravenhill district of Belfast at a cost of £2,300. The last full International at Ravenhill involving Ireland took place in 1953-54 against Scotland who were victorious by 2 tries (6 points) to nil. Australia played Romania in the 1999 World Cup at the ground. The next full International to be played at Ravenhill is the Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Italy in August 2007 due to the temporary closure of Lansdowne Road for reconstruction. Northern Ireland (Irish: ) is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... Ravenhill is a suburban area in the outskirts of Belfast. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Statistics Province: Northern Ireland County: District: Belfast UK Parliament: Belfast North Belfast South Belfast East Belfast West European Parliament: Northern Ireland Dialling Code: 028, +44 28 posttown = Belfast Postal District(s): BT1-BT17, BT29 (part of), BT58 Area: 115 km² Population (2001) Website: www. ... The 1999 Rugby World Cup was hosted by Wales, with some matches also played in England, France, Scotland and Ireland. ...

During the 1880s the four provincial branches of the IRFU first ran cup competitions and although these tournaments still take place every year their significance has been diminished by the advent of an All-Ireland league of 50 Senior Clubs in 1990. // Development and commercial production of electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered automobile by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach First commercial production and sales of phonographs and phonograph recordings. ... There is a National League system of 50 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

The four provinces have played an Interprovincial Championship since the 1920s and continue to be the focal point for players aspiring to the international level. Munster, Leinster and Ulster continue to be the strongest three with Connacht in the west of the island traditionally the weakest. All four provinces play at the senior level as members of the Celtic League. The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... Official website www. ... The Irish Rugby Football Union Leinster Branch (also known as Leinster Rugby) is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Leinster. ... The Irish Rugby Football Union Ulster Branch (also known as Ulster Rugby) is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Ulster, six counties of which are in Northern Ireland and three in the Republic of Ireland. ... The Irish Rugby Football Union Connacht Branch (the professional team of which which is run by Connacht Rugby) is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Connacht. ... The Celtic League, currently known as the Magners League for sponsorship reasons, is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ...

There are currently approximately 86,500 players in total in Ireland. 56 clubs are affiliated to the Ulster Branch; 71 to the Leinster Branch: 59 to the Munster Branch and 19 to the Connacht Branch. In addition there are 246 Schools playing rugby, Ulster (107), Leinster (75), Munster (41) and Connacht (23).

See also

• Ireland national rugby union team
• Connacht Rugby
• Leinster Rugby
• Munster Rugby
• Ulster Rugby
• Eddie O'Sullivan

First international England 7 - 0 Ireland (15 February 1875) Largest win United States 3 - 83 Ireland (10 June , 2000) Worst defeat New Zealand 59 - 6 Ireland (6 June 1992) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Quarter Finals, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2003 The Ireland rugby union team, represents... The Irish Rugby Football Union Connacht Branch (the professional team of which which is run by Connacht Rugby) is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Connacht. ... The Irish Rugby Football Union Leinster Branch (also known as Leinster Rugby) is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Leinster. ... Official website www. ... The Irish Rugby Football Union Ulster Branch (also known as Ulster Rugby) is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Ulster, six counties of which are in Northern Ireland and three in the Republic of Ireland. ... OSullivan celebrating the 2004 Triple Crown with Irish captain Brian ODriscoll. ...

External links

• Irish Rugby Football Union
• IrishRugby.net
• Irish Rugby.co.uk Latest Irish rugby union news