The Ireland national rugby union team has attended all eight Rugby World Cup tournaments. In all except the two, they reached the quarterfinal round but never advanced to the semi-final round. They have twice placed first in their pool. Ireland has never faced South Africa or England in a World Cup game.
Ireland began the 2019 Rugby World Cup with a victory against Scotland by 27-3 before falling to Japan a week later in the Shizuoka Stadium, 19-12. Following the victories over Samoa and Russia, the quarterfinal matchup against New Zealand was scheduled. Ireland was eliminated from the World Cup at the quarterfinal stage for the eighth time as New Zealand defeated Ireland by 46-14 in Joe Schmidt’s final game as head coach.
- RWC debut: 25 May, 1987 v Wales, at Athletic Park in Wellington
- RWC appearances: Played 40 – Won 24 Drawn 0 Lost 16 – Points for 1,108 Points against 735 – Winning ratio 60 per cent
- Most RWC appearances: Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell, 17
- Most RWC tries: Keith Earls, 8
- Best finish: Quarter-finalists (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019)
- Qualification for RWC 2023: Quarter-finalists at RWC 2019
Most Famous Victory
In the 2011 RWC, Ireland defeated Australia 15–6 at Eden Park. While Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara each made two penalties and Sexton added a drop goal, the Irish pack, who were outstanding that day, deserve credit for Ireland’s first-ever Rugby World Cup victory over the then-Tri-Nations champions.
Most Memorable Moment
The famous attempt by Gordon Hamilton against Australia is yet the most famous memorable moment for Ireland Rugby. The flanker’s magnificent run to the line gave Ireland the lead and optimism that they may defeat the Wallabies, but ultimately Ireland experienced further heartbreak in the quarterfinal. After a frantic run, he crashed over, sending Lansdowne Road into a frenzy. However, the eventual winners, Australia, maintained their calm and won the game with a last-second try by Michael Lynagh.
Lowest Point
Before their RWC 2015 quarterfinal in Cardiff, Ireland dominated in their previous five encounters with Argentina. The Los Pumas team, however, destroyed them after taking a 17-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Ireland had been one of the top teams up until that moment, which made the final score against them of 43-20 all the more unexpected.
Top Player
To me, Michael O’Driscoll is the Irish Rugby Team’s top player. Most of Brian O’Driscoll’s memorable performances came out during the Six Nations, but the center still scored seven tries in a tournament-record 17 appearances. In 2007 and 2011, eight of their outings were as captains.
Top Record Breaker
Ireland’s all-time highest scorer in Rugby World Cups is Ronan O’Gara. In 14 outings, the legendary Munster player scored 93 points, 15 more than Johnny Sexton, the 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year.
Ireland’s Tentative Squad
Name | Position | Age | Birthdate | Height | Weight | Height | Weight |
Andrew PORTER | Prop | 27 y/o | 16/01/1996 | 1.84 m | 125 kg | 6 ft | 19 st; 275.58 lb |
Cian HEALY | Prop | 35 y/o | 7/10/1987 | 1.85 m | 117 kg | 6 ft 1 in | 18 st 5.94 lb; 257.94 lb |
Dave KILCOYNE | Prop | 34 y/o | 14/12/1988 | 1.85 m | 118 kg | 6 ft 1 in | 18 st 8.15 lb; 260.15 lb |
Finlay BEALHAM | Prop | 31 y/o | 9/10/1991 | 1.85 m | 123 kg | 6 ft 1 in | 19 st 5.17 lb; 271.17 lb |
Jeremy LOUGHMAN | Prop | 27 y/o | 22/07/1995 | 1.85 m | 120 kg | 6 ft 1 in | 18 st 12.55 lb; 264.55 lb |
Tadhg FURLONG | Prop | 30 y/o | 14/11/1992 | 1.83 m | 125 kg | 6 ft | 19 st; 275.58 lb |
Tom O’TOOLE | Prop | 24 y/o | 23/09/1998 | 1.85 m | 124 kg | 6 ft 1 in | 19 st 7.37 lb; 273.37 lb |
Dan SHEEHAN | Hooker | 24 y/o | 17/09/1998 | 1.91 m | 111 kg | 6 ft 3 in | 17 st 6.71 lb; 244.71 lb |
Rob HERRING | Hooker | 33 y/o | 27/04/1990 | 1.85 m | 106 kg | 6 ft 1 in | 16 st 9.69 lb; 233.69 lb |
Ronan KELLEHER | Hooker | 25 y/o | 24/01/1998 | 1.85 m | 106 kg | 6 ft 1 in | 16 st 9.69 lb; 233.69 lb |
Iain HENDERSON | Lock | 31 y/o | 21/02/1992 | 1.98 m | 116 kg | 6 ft 6 in | 18 st 3.74 lb; 255.74 lb |
James RYAN | Lock | 26 y/o | 24/07/1996 | 2.03 m | 116 kg | 6 ft 8 in | 18 st 3.74 lb; 255.74 lb |
Joe MCCARTHY | Lock | 22 y/o | 26/03/2001 | 1.98 m | 119 kg | 6 ft 6 in | 18 st 10.35 lb; 262.35 lb |
Kieran TREADWELL | Lock | 27 y/o | 6/11/1995 | 1.99 m | 117 kg | 6 ft 6 in | 18 st 5.94 lb; 257.94 lb |
Ryan BAIRD | Lock | 23 y/o | 26/07/1999 | 1.98 m | 113 kg | 6 ft 6 in | 17 st 11.12 lb; 249.12 lb |
Tadhg BEIRNE | Lock | 31 y/o | 8/1/1992 | 1.98 m | 114 kg | 6 ft 6 in | 17 st 13.33 lb; 251.33 lb |
Caelan DORIS | Back row | 25 y/o | 2/4/1998 | 1.93 m | 107 kg | 6 ft 4 in | 16 st 11.89 lb; 235.89 lb |
Cian PRENDERGAST | Back row | 23 y/o | 23/02/2000 | 1.96 m | 112 kg | 6 ft 5 in | 17 st 8.92 lb; 246.92 lb |
Jack CONAN | Back row | 30 y/o | 29/07/1992 | 1.93 m | 114 kg | 6 ft 4 in | 17 st 13.33 lb; 251.33 lb |
Josh VAN DER FLIER | Back row | 30 y/o | 25/04/1993 | 1.83 m | 105 kg | 6 ft | 16 st; 231.49 lb |
Max DEEGAN | Back row | 26 y/o | 1/10/1996 | 1.93 m | 110 kg | 6 ft 4 in | 17 st 4.51 lb; 242.51 lb |
Nick TIMONEY | Back row | 27 y/o | 1/8/1995 | 1.88 m | 114 kg | 6 ft 2 in | 17 st 13.33 lb; 251.33 lb |
Peter O’MAHONY | Back row | 33 y/o | 17/09/1989 | 1.91 m | 108 kg | 6 ft 3 in | 17 st 0.10 lb; 238.10 lb |
Conor MURRAY | Scrum-half | 34 y/o | 20/04/1989 | 1.88 m | 94 kg | 6 ft 2 in | 14 st 11.23 lb; 207.23 lb |
Craig CASEY | Scrum-half | 24 y/o | 19/04/1999 | 1.65 m | 76 kg | 5 ft 5 in | 11 st 13.55 lb; 167.55 lb |
Jamison GIBSON-PARK | Scrum-half | 31 y/o | 23/02/1992 | 1.76 m | 83 kg | 5 ft 9 in | 13 st 0.98 lb; 182.98 lb |
Jack CROWLEY | Fly-half | 23 y/o | 13/01/2000 | 1.83 m | 90 kg | 6 ft | 14 st; 198.42 lb |
Joey CARBERY | Fly-half | 27 y/o | 1/11/1995 | 1.83 m | 86 kg | 6 ft | 13 st; 189.60 lb |
Johnny SEXTON | Fly-half | 37 y/o | 11/7/1985 | 1.88 m | 92 kg | 6 ft 2 in | 14 st 6.83 lb; 202.83 lb |
Ross BYRNE | Fly-half | 28 y/o | 8/4/1995 | 1.93 m | 95 kg | 6 ft 4 in | 14 st 13.44 lb; 209.44 lb |
Bundee AKI | Centre | 33 y/o | 7/4/1990 | 1.80 m | 102 kg | 5 ft 11 in | 16 st 0.87 lb; 224.87 lb |
Garry RINGROSE | Centre | 28 y/o | 26/01/1995 | 1.91 m | 96 kg | 6 ft 3 in | 15 st 1.64 lb; 211.64 lb |
Robbie HENSHAW | Centre | 29 y/o | 12/6/1993 | 1.91 m | 103 kg | 6 ft 3 in | 16 st 3.08 lb; 227.08 lb |
Stuart MCCLOSKEY | Centre | 30 y/o | 6/8/1992 | 1.93 m | 111 kg | 6 ft 4 in | 17 st 6.71 lb; 244.71 lb |
James LOWE | Winger | 30 y/o | 8/7/1992 | 1.88 m | 105 kg | 6 ft 2 in | 16 st 7.49 lb; 231.49 lb |
Robert BALOUCOUNE | Winger | 25 y/o | 19/08/1997 | 1.94 m | 99 kg | 6 ft 4 in | 15 st 8.26 lb; 218.26 lb |
Hugo KEENAN | Fullback | 26 y/o | 18/06/1996 | 1.85 m | 92 kg | 6 ft 1 in | 14 st 6.83 lb; 202.83 lb |
Jimmy O’BRIEN | Fullback | 26 y/o | 27/11/1996 | 1.83 m | 90 kg | 6 ft | 14 st; 198.42 lb |
Mack HANSEN | Fullback | 25 y/o | 27/03/1998 | 1.88 m | 89 kg | 6 ft 2 in | 14 st 0.21 lb; 196.21 lb |
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