About The Ireland National Rugby Union Team
The Ireland Rugby Football Union represents the Emerald Isle in international rugby competition. The IRFU entered 2019 ranked No. 2 in the World Rugby Rankings, behind only the All Blacks of New Zealand, and they hope to build on their success in 2018.
Ireland competes annually in the Six Nations tournament, facing competition from the best that England, Scotland, Wales, France, and Italy have to offer. In 2019, Ireland also will play in the Rugby World Cup in Japan and are ready to prove to the world that their recent success is only the beginning.
Ireland has historically held their own in rugby union, winning what is now known as the Six Nations tournament 14 times and sharing another nine titles. Ireland has achieved the Grand Slam three times, sweeping every other nation in 1948, 2009, and 2018. They have also achieved the Triple Crown (winning against the Home Nations of England, Scotland, and Wales) 12 times, most recently in 2018. Since the late 1980s, the IRFU have competed for the Millennium Trophy against England and the Centenary Quaich against Scotland within the Six Nations tournament.
The home field for the IRFU is Aviva Stadium, which seats 51,700 for soccer and rugby. Opened in 2010, Aviva Stadium is built on the site of the previous home for Irish rugby, Lansdowne Road Stadium. Aviva Stadium also is the secondary home of the rugby league team Leinster for their more important games.
Leinster was the previous home for IRFU coach Joe Schmidt, who since 2013 has led Ireland to Six Nations titles in 2014, 2015, and 2018. The New Zealand–born Schmidt also has led Ireland to their first victory against the All Blacks in 2016 and was voted World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2018. Schmidt will coach the IRFU through the 2019 Rugby World Cup, after which he is set to be replaced by defensive coach Andy Farrell.
