Ireland national rugby union team
| Emblem | Shamrock with rugby ball | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Irish Rugby Football Union | ||
| Head coach | Andy Farrell | ||
| Captain | Caelan Doris | ||
| Most caps | Cian Healy (137) | ||
| Top scorer | Johnny Sexton (1,108) | ||
| Top try scorer | Brian O'Driscoll (46) | ||
| Home stadium | Aviva Stadium | ||
| |||
| World Rugby ranking | |||
| Current | 3 (as of 22 February 2026) | ||
| Highest | 1 (2019, 2022–2023, 2024) | ||
| Lowest | 9 (2013) | ||
| First international | |||
| England 7–0 Ireland (Kennington, England; 15 February 1875) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Portugal 7–106 Ireland (Algés, Portugal; 12 July 2025) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| New Zealand 60–0 Ireland (Hamilton, New Zealand; 23 June 2012) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 10 (first in 1987) | ||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023) | ||
| Website | www.irishrugby.ie | ||
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland — both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland — in rugby union. 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.
The Ireland national team dates to 1875, when they played their first international match against England. Ireland reached number 1 in the World Rugby Rankings for the first time in 2019; 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. Twelve former Ireland players have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.