England and Ireland have played rugby union internationals against each other since 1875, with England winning the first match at The Oval, London by two goals to nil. (A points scoring system was not used in rugby at the time.) The two teams have played a total of 142 Test matches with England winning 81 of them, Ireland 53, and 8 resulting in a draw. [1] However, since rugby union went professional in 1995, the head-to-head is a lot closer. The teams have met 34 times since then with England winning 19 test matches to Ireland's 15.
Apart from their annual match during the Six Nations Championship, the teams have also met on six other occasions, with England winning five. The sides have played four warm-up matches prior to the 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 World Cups. They played a one-off match in April 1988 to celebrate the millennium of the city of Dublin in which the winners of the 1988 match, England, were awarded the Millennium Trophy. This then became the trophy for the annual match between the teams in the Six Nations Championship. The sides also faced off in the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup which took place in November 2020.
Ireland achieved a record away winning margin over England when they beat them 32–15 on 12 March 2022, following an early Charlie Ewels red card. [2]
The Millennium Trophy (Irish : Corn na Mílaoise) is a rugby union award contested annually by England and Ireland as part of the Six Nations Championship. It was initiated in 1988 as part of Dublin's millennial celebrations. The trophy has the shape of a horned Viking helmet. [3] As of 2024, England have won it 21 times, and Ireland 16 times. The Millennium Trophy is currently held by England, who beat Ireland 23–22 at Twickenham Stadium. [4]
Details | Played | Won by England | Won by Ireland | Drawn | England points | Ireland points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In England | 71 | 48 | 19 | 4 | 1,052 | 605 |
In Ireland | 71 | 33 | 34 | 4 | 711 | 709 |
Overall | 142 | 81 | 53 | 8 | 1,763 | 1,314 |
RecordsNote: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was last set.
| AttendanceUp to date as of 9 March 2024
|
No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 February 1875 | The Oval, London | (2T) 2G–0G (0) | England | 1874–75 Home Nations International | 3,000 | [5] |
2 | 13 December 1875 | Rathmines, Dublin | (0) 0G–1G (2T) | England | 1875–76 Home Nations International | — | [6] |
3 | 5 February 1877 | The Oval, London | (4T) 2G–0G (0) | England | 1876–77 Home Nations International | [7] | |
4 | 11 March 1878 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | (0) 0G–2G (3T) | England | 1877–78 Home Nations International | — | [8] |
5 | 24 March 1879 | The Oval, London | (4T) 3G–0G (0) | England | 1878–79 Home Nations International | — | [9] |
6 | 2 February 1880 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | (1T) 0G–1G (2T) | England | 1879–80 Home Nations International | — | [10] |
7 | 5 February 1881 | Whalley Range, Manchester | (4T) 2G–0G (0) | England | 1880–81 Home Nations International | — | [11] |
8 | 6 February 1882 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | (2T) 0G–0G (2T) | draw | 1881–82 Home Nations International | 5,000 | [12] |
9 | 5 February 1883 | Whalley Range, Manchester | (4T) 1G–0G (1T) | England | 1883 Home Nations Championship | — | [13] |
10 | 4 February 1884 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | (0) 0G–1G (1T) | England | 1884 Home Nations Championship | — | [14] |
11 | 7 February 1885 | Whalley Range, Manchester | (2T) 0G–0G (1T) | England | 1885 Home Nations Championship | 7,000 | [15] |
12 | 6 February 1886 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | (0) 0G–0G (1T) | England | 1886 Home Nations Championship | — | [16] |
13 | 5 February 1887 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | (2T) 2G–0G (0) | Ireland | 1887 Home Nations Championship | — | [17] |
14 | 15 March 1890 | Rectory Field, Blackheath | 3–0 | England | 1890 Home Nations Championship | 12,000 | [18] |
15 | 7 February 1891 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 0–9 | England | 1891 Home Nations Championship | — | [19] |
16 | 6 February 1892 | Whalley Range, Manchester | 7–0 | England | 1892 Home Nations Championship | — | [20] |
17 | 4 February 1893 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 0–4 | England | 1893 Home Nations Championship | 7,000 | [21] |
18 | 3 February 1894 | Rectory Field, Blackheath | 5–7 | Ireland | 1894 Home Nations Championship | 20,000 | [22] |
19 | 2 February 1895 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 3–6 | England | 1895 Home Nations Championship | 9,000 | [23] |
20 | 1 February 1896 | Meanwood Road, Leeds | 4–10 | Ireland | 1896 Home Nations Championship | 17,858 | [24] |
21 | 6 February 1897 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 13–9 | Ireland | 1897 Home Nations Championship | 15,000 | [25] |
22 | 5 February 1898 | Athletic Ground, Richmond | 6–9 | Ireland | 1898 Home Nations Championship | 20,000 | [26] |
23 | 4 February 1899 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–0 | Ireland | 1899 Home Nations Championship | 12,000 | [27] |
24 | 3 February 1900 | Athletic Ground, Richmond | 15–4 | England | 1900 Home Nations Championship | 10,000 | [28] |
25 | 9 February 1901 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 10–6 | Ireland | 1901 Home Nations Championship | 8,000 | [29] |
26 | 8 February 1902 | Welford Road, Leicester | 6–3 | England | 1902 Home Nations Championship | 20,000 | [30] |
27 | 14 February 1903 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–0 | Ireland | 1903 Home Nations Championship | — | [31] |
28 | 13 February 1904 | Rectory Field, Blackheath | 19–0 | England | 1904 Home Nations Championship | — | [32] |
29 | 11 February 1905 | Mardyke, Cork | 17–3 | Ireland | 1905 Home Nations Championship | 12,000 | [33] |
30 | 10 February 1906 | Welford Road, Leicester | 6–16 | Ireland | 1906 Home Nations Championship | 10,000 | [34] |
31 | 9 February 1907 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 17–9 | Ireland | 1907 Home Nations Championship | 10,000 | [35] |
32 | 8 February 1908 | Athletic Ground, Richmond | 13–3 | England | 1908 Home Nations Championship | — | [36] |
33 | 13 February 1909 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 5–11 | England | 1909 Home Nations Championship | — | [37] |
34 | 11 February 1910 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 0–0 | draw | 1910 Five Nations Championship | 14,000 | [38] |
35 | 11 February 1911 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 3–0 | Ireland | 1911 Five Nations Championship | — | [39] |
36 | 10 February 1912 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 15–0 | England | 1912 Five Nations Championship | 25,000 | [40] |
37 | 9 February 1913 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 4–15 | England | 1913 Five Nations Championship | 15,000 | [41] |
38 | 14 February 1914 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 17–12 | England | 1914 Five Nations Championship | 40,000 | [42] |
39 | 14 February 1920 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 11–14 | England | 1920 Five Nations Championship | — | [43] |
40 | 12 February 1921 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 15–0 | England | 1921 Five Nations Championship | 27,500 | [44] |
41 | 11 February 1922 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 3–12 | England | 1922 Five Nations Championship | — | [45] |
42 | 10 February 1923 | Welford Road, Leicester | 23–5 | England | 1923 Five Nations Championship | 20,000 | [46] |
43 | 9 February 1924 | Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast | 3–14 | England | 1924 Five Nations Championship | 15,000 | [47] |
44 | 14 February 1925 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 6–6 | draw | 1925 Five Nations Championship | — | [48] |
45 | 13 February 1926 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 19–15 | Ireland | 1926 Five Nations Championship | — | [49] |
46 | 12 February 1927 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 8–6 | England | 1927 Five Nations Championship | 45,000 | [50] |
47 | 11 February 1928 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–7 | England | 1928 Five Nations Championship | — | [51] |
48 | 9 February 1929 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 5–6 | Ireland | 1929 Five Nations Championship | — | [52] |
49 | 8 February 1930 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 4–3 | Ireland | 1930 Five Nations Championship | — | [53] |
50 | 14 February 1931 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 5–6 | Ireland | 1931 Five Nations Championship | 60,000 | [54] |
51 | 13 February 1932 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 8–11 | England | 1932 Home Nations Championship | — | [55] |
52 | 11 February 1933 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 17–6 | England | 1933 Home Nations Championship | — | [56] |
53 | 10 February 1934 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 3–13 | England | 1934 Home Nations Championship | — | [57] |
54 | 9 February 1935 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 14–3 | England | 1935 Home Nations Championship | — | [58] |
55 | 8 February 1936 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–3 | Ireland | 1936 Home Nations Championship | 36,000 | [59] |
56 | 13 February 1937 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 9–8 | England | 1937 Home Nations Championship | — | [60] |
57 | 12 February 1938 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 14–36 | England | 1938 Home Nations Championship | — | [61] |
58 | 11 February 1939 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 0–5 | Ireland | 1939 Home Nations Championship | — | [62] |
59 | 8 February 1947 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 22–0 | Ireland | 1947 Five Nations Championship | — | [63] |
60 | 14 February 1948 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 10–11 | Ireland | 1948 Five Nations Championship | — | [64] Clip |
61 | 12 February 1949 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 14–5 | Ireland | 1949 Five Nations Championship | — | [65] |
62 | 11 February 1950 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 3–0 | England | 1950 Five Nations Championship | — | [66] |
63 | 10 February 1951 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 3–0 | Ireland | 1951 Five Nations Championship | 45,000 | [67] |
64 | 29 March 1952 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 3–0 | England | 1952 Five Nations Championship | — | [68] |
65 | 11 February 1953 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 9–9 | draw | 1953 Five Nations Championship | — | [69] |
66 | 13 February 1954 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 14–3 | England | 1954 Five Nations Championship | — | [70] |
67 | 12 February 1955 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–6 | draw | 1955 Five Nations Championship | 45,000 | [71] |
68 | 11 February 1956 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 20–0 | England | 1956 Five Nations Championship | — | [72] |
69 | 9 February 1957 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 0–6 | England | 1957 Five Nations Championship | — | [73] |
70 | 8 February 1958 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 6–0 | England | 1958 Five Nations Championship | — | [74] |
71 | 14 February 1959 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 0–3 | England | 1959 Five Nations Championship | 50,000 | [75] |
72 | 13 February 1960 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 8–5 | England | 1960 Five Nations Championship | — | [76] |
73 | 11 February 1961 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 11–8 | Ireland | 1961 Five Nations Championship | — | [77] |
74 | 10 February 1962 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 16–0 | England | 1962 Five Nations Championship | — | [78] |
75 | 9 February 1963 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 0–0 | draw | 1963 Five Nations Championship | — | [79] |
76 | 8 February 1964 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 5–18 | Ireland | 1964 Five Nations Championship | — | [80] |
77 | 13 February 1965 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 5–0 | Ireland | 1965 Five Nations Championship | — | [81] |
78 | 12 February 1966 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 6–6 | draw | 1966 Five Nations Championship | — | [82] |
79 | 11 February 1967 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 3–8 | England | 1967 Five Nations Championship | — | [83] |
80 | 10 February 1968 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 9–9 | draw | 1968 Five Nations Championship | — | [84] |
81 | 8 February 1969 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 17–15 | Ireland | 1969 Five Nations Championship | — | [85] |
82 | 14 February 1970 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 9–3 | England | 1970 Five Nations Championship | — | [86] |
83 | 13 February 1971 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–9 | England | 1971 Five Nations Championship | — | [87] |
84 | 12 February 1972 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 12–16 | Ireland | 1972 Five Nations Championship | — | [88] |
85 | 10 February 1973 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 18–9 | Ireland | 1973 Five Nations Championship | 50,000 | [89] |
86 | 16 February 1974 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 21–26 | Ireland | 1974 Five Nations Championship | — | [90] |
87 | 18 January 1975 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 12–9 | Ireland | 1975 Five Nations Championship | — | [91] |
88 | 6 March 1976 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 12–13 | Ireland | 1976 Five Nations Championship | — | [92] |
89 | 5 February 1977 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 0–4 | England | 1977 Five Nations Championship | — | [93] |
90 | 18 March 1978 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 15–9 | England | 1978 Five Nations Championship | — | [94] |
91 | 17 February 1979 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 12–7 | Ireland | 1979 Five Nations Championship | — | [95] |
92 | 19 January 1980 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 24–9 | England | 1980 Five Nations Championship | — | [96] |
93 | 7 March 1981 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–10 | England | 1981 Five Nations Championship | — | [97] |
94 | 6 February 1982 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 15–16 | Ireland | 1982 Five Nations Championship | — | [98] |
95 | 19 March 1983 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 25–15 | Ireland | 1983 Five Nations Championship | — | [99] |
96 | 18 February 1984 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 12–9 | England | 1984 Five Nations Championship | — | [100] |
97 | 30 March 1985 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 13–10 | Ireland | 1985 Five Nations Championship | — | [101] [102] |
98 | 1 March 1986 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 25–20 | England | 1986 Five Nations Championship | — | [103] |
99 | 7 February 1987 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 17–0 | Ireland | 1987 Five Nations Championship | — | [104] |
100 | 19 March 1988 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 35–3 | England | 1988 Five Nations Championship | — | [105] |
101 | 23 April 1988 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 10–21 | England | Millennium Trophy | — | [106] |
102 | 18 February 1989 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 3–16 | England | 1989 Five Nations Championship | — | [107] |
103 | 20 January 1990 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 23–0 | England | 1990 Five Nations Championship | — | [108] |
104 | 2 March 1991 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 7–16 | England | 1991 Five Nations Championship | — | [109] |
105 | 1 February 1992 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 38–9 | England | 1992 Five Nations Championship | — | [110] |
106 | 20 March 1993 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 17–3 | Ireland | 1993 Five Nations Championship | — | [102] [111] |
107 | 19 February 1994 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 12–13 | Ireland | 1994 Five Nations Championship | — | [112] |
108 | 21 January 1995 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 8–20 | England | 1995 Five Nations Championship | — | [113] |
109 | 16 March 1996 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 28–15 | England | 1996 Five Nations Championship | 75,000 | [114] |
110 | 15 February 1997 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–46 | England | 1997 Five Nations Championship | 51,898 | [115] |
111 | 4 April 1998 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 35–17 | England | 1998 Five Nations Championship | 75,000 | [116] [117] |
112 | 6 March 1999 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 15–27 | England | 1999 Five Nations Championship | 49,000 | [118] [119] |
113 | 5 February 2000 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 50–18 | England | 2000 Six Nations Championship | 75,000 | [120] [121] |
114 | 20 October 2001 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 20–14 | Ireland | 2001 Six Nations Championship | 49,000 | [122] [123] |
115 | 16 February 2002 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 45–11 | England | 2002 Six Nations Championship | 75,000 | [124] [125] |
116 | 30 March 2003 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 6–42 | England | 2003 Six Nations Championship | 48,000 | [126] [127] |
117 | 6 March 2004 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 13–19 | Ireland | 2004 Six Nations Championship | 72,000 | [128] [129] |
118 | 27 February 2005 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | 19–13 | Ireland | 2005 Six Nations Championship | 49,250 | [130] [131] |
119 | 18 March 2006 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 24–28 | Ireland | 2006 Six Nations Championship | 68,000 | [132] [133] |
120 | 24 February 2007 | Croke Park, Dublin | 43–13 | Ireland | 2007 Six Nations Championship | 81,611 | [134] [135] |
121 | 15 March 2008 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 33–10 | England | 2008 Six Nations Championship | 82,000 | [136] |
122 | 28 February 2009 | Croke Park, Dublin | 14–13 | Ireland | 2009 Six Nations Championship | 82,000 | [137] [138] |
123 | 27 February 2010 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 16–20 | Ireland | 2010 Six Nations Championship | 81,554 | [139] |
124 | 19 March 2011 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 24–8 | Ireland | 2011 Six Nations Championship | 51,000 | [140] [141] |
125 | 27 August 2011 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 9–20 | England | 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-up match | 48,523 | [142] [143] |
126 | 17 March 2012 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 30–9 | England | 2012 Six Nations Championship | 80,567 | [144] |
127 | 10 February 2013 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 6–12 | England | 2013 Six Nations Championship | 51,000 | [145] [146] |
128 | 22 February 2014 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 13–10 | England | 2014 Six Nations Championship | 81,835 | [147] [148] |
129 | 1 March 2015 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 19–9 | Ireland | 2015 Six Nations Championship | 51,500 | [149] [150] |
130 | 5 September 2015 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 21–13 | England | 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up match | 80,138 | [151] |
131 | 27 February 2016 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 21–10 | England | 2016 Six Nations Championship | 81,826 | [152] [153] |
132 | 18 March 2017 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 13–9 | Ireland | 2017 Six Nations Championship | 51,700 | [154] [155] |
133 | 17 March 2018 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 15–24 | Ireland | 2018 Six Nations Championship | 82,062 | [156] [157] |
134 | 2 February 2019 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 20–32 | England | 2019 Six Nations Championship | 51,000 | [158] [159] |
135 | 24 August 2019 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 57–15 | England | 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up match | 80,000 | [160] [161] |
136 | 23 February 2020 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 24–12 | England | 2020 Six Nations Championship | 81,476 | [162] |
137 | 21 November 2020 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 18–7 | England | Autumn Nations Cup | 0* | [163] |
138 | 20 March 2021 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 32–18 | Ireland | 2021 Six Nations Championship | 0* | [164] |
139 | 12 March 2022 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 15–32 | Ireland | 2022 Six Nations Championship | 81,658 | [165] [166] |
140 | 18 March 2023 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 29–16 | Ireland | 2023 Six Nations Championship | 51,700 | [167] |
141 | 19 August 2023 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 29–10 | Ireland | 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up match | 51,000 | [168] |
142 | 9 March 2024 | Twickenham Stadium, London | 23–22 | England | 2024 Six Nations Championship | 81,686 | [4] |
143 | 1 February 2025 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 2025 Six Nations Championship |
Decade | England | Ireland | Drawn | Series winner |
---|---|---|---|---|
1870s | 5 | 0 | 0 | England |
1880s | 6 | 1 | 1 | England |
1890s | 5 | 5 | 0 | Drawn |
1900s | 5 | 5 | 0 | Drawn |
1910s | 3 | 1 | 1 | England |
1920s | 6 | 2 | 1 | England |
1930s | 6 | 4 | 0 | England |
1940s | 0 | 3 | 0 | Ireland |
1950s | 7 | 1 | 2 | England |
1960s | 3 | 4 | 3 | Ireland |
1970s | 4 | 6 | 0 | Ireland |
1980s | 7 | 4 | 0 | England |
1990s | 8 | 2 | 0 | England |
2000s | 4 | 6 | 0 | Ireland |
2010s | 8 | 5 | 0 | England |
2020s | 3 | 4 | 0 | Ireland |
The England men's national rugby union team represents the Rugby Football Union in men's international rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. England have won the championship on 29 occasions, winning the Grand Slam 14 times and the Triple Crown 26 times, making them the most successful outright winners in the tournament's history. They are currently the only team from the Northern Hemisphere to win the Rugby World Cup, having won the tournament in 2003, and have been runners-up on three further occasions.
The Ireland national rugby union team is the men's representative national team for the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team represents both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 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 – players eligible to play for Ireland are also eligible for the Lions.
Ravenhill Stadium is a rugby stadium located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home of Ulster Rugby. With the opening of a new stand for the 2014 Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens on 5 April 2014, the capacity of the stadium is now 18,196. The stadium is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union.
The Canada men's national rugby union team represents the Canada in men's international rugby union competitions. They are overseen by Rugby Canada the governing body of rugby union in Canada.
The Millennium Trophy is a rugby union award contested annually by England and Ireland as part of the Six Nations Championship. It was initiated in 1988 as part of Dublin's millennial celebrations. The trophy has the shape of a horned Viking helmet. As of 2024, England have won it 21 times, and Ireland 16 times.
The Ireland Wolfhounds are the second national rugby union team of Ireland, behind the Ireland national team. They previously competed in the Churchill Cup together with the England Saxons, the national teams of Canada and the United States, as well as a selection of other nations' 1st, 2nd and 3rd representative sides. They also played against other Six Nations countries' A sides during the Six Nations. They have intermittently played touring sides, namely South Africa in 2000, the All Blacks in 2001 and Australia in 2006. On the 21 June 2009, Ireland A won their first Churchill Cup, beating the England Saxons 49–22 in the final. They also won the Churchill Plate three times in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Initially named Ireland B, the side was redesignated to Ireland A from the 1992–1993 season. They were once again renamed the Ireland Wolfhounds in January 2010. This name was inspired by a nomadic invitational side, which competed between 1956 and 1987 against other club sides throughout Ireland. The Wolfhounds have not competed in a competition since the IRFU declined to compete in the 2016 Tbilisi Cup. Ireland A played their first match in over seven years against the All Blacks XV in November 2022 at the RDS losing 19–47.
The Centenary Quaich is an international rugby union award contested annually by Ireland and Scotland as part of the Six Nations Championship.
Cian Eoin James Healy is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.
Rhys Priestland is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Cardiff Rugby and the Wales national team. Although he primarily plays as a fly-half, he is also capable of playing at full-back. Born in Llangathen, Carmarthenshire, he began his career with Llanelli RFC before progressing to the Scarlets regional side. After eight years with the Scarlets, he moved to England to play for Bath in the English Premiership, where he spent six seasons before returning to Wales with Cardiff Rugby. He made his Wales debut in 2011, and earned 50 caps – including being named in the squad for the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups – before his move to England made him ineligible for selection.
Daniel Richard Cole is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the England national team.
Aviva Stadium, also known as Lansdowne Road or Dublin Arena, is a sports stadium located in Dublin, Ireland, with a capacity for 51,711 spectators. It is built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road Stadium, which was demolished in 2007, and replaced it as home to its chief tenants: the Irish rugby union team and the Republic of Ireland football team. The decision to redevelop the stadium came after plans for both Stadium Ireland and Eircom Park fell through. Aviva Group Ireland signed a 10-year deal for the naming rights in 2009, and subsequently extended the arrangement until 2025.
Ireland and Wales have played each other at rugby union since 1882. A total of 135 matches have been played, with Wales winning 70 matches, Ireland winning 58 matches and seven matches drawn. The two sides have met three times at the Rugby World Cup, with Wales winning two and Ireland winning one of those encounters. Wales won 13–6 in their pool encounter at the inaugural World Cup in 1987. Ireland eliminated Wales at the pool stage during the 1995 World Cup, with a 24–23 victory in 1995. In their third World Cup matchup, Wales beat Ireland 22–10 in the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup. In the Six Nations Championship the two sides have faced each other 24 times with Wales winning on 66 occasions, Ireland winning 52 times and seven matches resulting in a draw.
George Thomas Ford is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks and the England national team.
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Since 1909, France and Ireland have played each other in a total of 103 test matches, with France winning 59 times, Ireland winning 37 times and seven matches drawn.
Ireland and Scotland have played each other at rugby union in 142 matches, with Ireland winning 71 times, Scotland winning 66 times and five matches drawn. Since 1989, the teams have competed for the Centenary Quaich during the Six Nations Championship.
Henry James Harvey Slade is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Exeter Chiefs and the England national team.
Viliami Vunipola is a professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for the Top 14 side Montpellier. Born in Australia, he represents England at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
Anthony Kenneth Chisom Watson is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing or fullback for Leicester Tigers and the England national team.