List of Ireland national rugby union team records

Last updated

The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in international rugby union and plays in the Six Nations Championship and Rugby World Cup.

Contents

Thomas Gisborne Gordon, who played for Ireland between 1877–78, is the only one handed player to have competed in international rugby of either code. [1]

Career

Most caps

Ten current or retired members of the Ireland team have earned 100 or more test caps. Ireland's all-time caps leader is Brian O'Driscoll with 133. The active player with the most caps is Cian Healy with 129 caps, followed by Conor Murray with 116 caps. [2]

These figures do not include caps for the Lions. When those are included, O'Driscoll has 141 international caps, O'Gara has 130, and Conor Murray and Sexton have both 124 caps. [3]

#PlayerCareer SpanCapsTriesPts
1 Brian O'Driscoll 1999–201413346245
2 Cian Healy 2009–1291260
3 Ronan O'Gara 2000–2013128161083
4 Rory Best 2005–20191241260
5 Johnny Sexton 2009–2023118181108
6 Conor Murray 2011–11616105
7 Paul O'Connell 2002–2015108840
8 John Hayes 2000–2011105210
Peter O'Mahony 2012–105525
10 Keith Earls 2008–202310136180

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

Most tries

Ireland's record try scorer is Brian O'Driscoll, who notched 46 career tries, [4] which ranks him eighth in international tries.

#PlayerCareer SpanTriesCapsAve.
1 Brian O'Driscoll 1999–2014461330.35
2 Keith Earls 2008–2023361010.36
3 Tommy Bowe 2004–201730690.43
4 Denis Hickie 1997–200729620.47
5 Shane Horgan 2000–200921650.32
6 Girvan Dempsey 1998–200819820.23
Jacob Stockdale 2017–19370.51
8 Geordan Murphy 2000–201118720.25
Johnny Sexton 2009–2023181180.15
10 Brendan Mullin 1984–199517550.31
Andrew Trimble 2005–201717690.25

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

Most points

Johnny Sexton holds the Ireland record for test points with 1,101, [5] placing him fourth all-time in international rugby union. Johnny Sexton is the highest points scorers in the Six Nations with 566 points, followed by Ronan O'Gara with 557. [6] [7]

#PlayerCareer spanPointsCapsTriesCon.Pen.DGAve.
1 Johnny Sexton 2009–20231,1081181818221449.39
2 Ronan O'Gara 2000–20131,08312816176202158.46
3 David Humphreys 1996–20055607268811087.78
4 Michael Kiernan 1982–1991308436406267.16
5 Eric Elwood 1993–1999296350436828.46
6 Brian O'Driscoll 1999–2014245133460051.84
7 Ollie Campbell 1976–1984217221155479.86
8 Paddy Jackson 2013–2017195252463017.8
9 Keith Earls 2008–2023180101360001.78
10 Joey Carbery 2016–164372561404.43

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

Most matches as captain

Brian O'Driscoll is third on the all-time list for test matches as captain. He has captained Ireland 83 times and the Lions once. [8]

#PlayerSpanCaptainciesCapsWinsWin %
1 Brian O'Driscoll 2002–2012831335262.65%
2 Rory Best 2009–2019381242463.16%
3 Keith Wood 1996–200336581541.67%
4 Johnny Sexton 2019–2023301182583.33%
5 Paul O'Connell 2004–2015281081864.29%
6 Tom Kiernan 1963–197324541666.67%
7 Ciarán Fitzgerald 1982–19861925947.37%
8 Dónal Lenihan 1986–19901752847.06%
Fergus Slattery 1979–19811761529.41%
10 Michael Bradley 1992–19951540533.33%
William Crawford 1924–192715301173.33%
Karl Mullen 1947–195215251066.67%

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2] [9]

Single match

Most points in a match

#PlayerPosPtsTriesConPenDGResultOppositionDate
1 Ronan O'Gara Fly-half 32225140–14Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 20 June 2003
2 Ronan O'Gara Fly-half 30066060–13Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 4 March 2000
3 David Humphreys Fly-half 26135036–6Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 16 February 2003
David Humphreys Fly-half 26163061–6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 30 August 2003
Paddy Wallace Fly-half 26163061–17 Pacific Islanders 26 November 2006
6 Paul Burke Fly-half 24008029–37Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 4 January 1997
David Humphreys Fly-half 24007124–28Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 20 October 1999
Johnny Sexton Fly-half 24270082–8Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 9 September 2023
9 Ralph Keyes Fly-half 23045055–11Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 6 October 1991
Ronan O'Gara Fly-half 230101078–9Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 11 November 2000

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

Most tries in a match

TriesPlayerPositionResultOppositionDate
4 Brian Robinson Number 8 55–11Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 6 October 1991
Keith Wood Hooker 53–8Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2 October 1999
Denis Hickie Wing 61–6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 30 August 2003
Rónan Kelleher Hooker 71–10Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10 July 2021
3(Several players tied)

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

Player age

Youngest players

#PlayerAgeDOBDebutOpposition
1 Frank Hewitt 17 years 157 days3 October 19068 March 1924Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
2 John Quirke 17 years 229 days26 June 194410 February 1962Flag of England.svg  England
3 George McAllan 18 years 13 days2 February 187815 February 1896Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
4 Edmund Forrest 18 years 57 days5 October 18701 December 1888 Flag of New Zealand.svg N.Z. Natives
5 Aidan Bailey 18 years 68 days1 January 191610 March 1934Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
6 George Stephenson 18 years 103 days22 December 19013 April 1920Flag of France.svg  France
7 Dave Hewitt 18 years 131 days9 September 193918 January 1958Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
8 Frederick Harvey 18 years 189 days1 September 18889 March 1907Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
9 Dickie Lloyd 18 years 192 days4 August 189112 February 1910Flag of England.svg  England
10 Jasper Brett 18 years 218 days8 August 189514 March 1914Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

Oldest players

#PlayerAgeDOBLast MatchOpposition
1 Johnny Sexton 38 years 92 days11 July 198514 October 2023Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2 John Hayes 37 years 277 days2 November 19736 August 2011Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
3 Rory Best 37 years 65 days15 August 198219 October 2019Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
4 Mike Gibson 36 years 195 days3 December 194216 June 1979Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
5 Mike Ross 36 years 187 days21 December 197925 June 2016Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
6 Phil Orr 36 years 175 days14 December 19507 June 1987Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
7 Cian Healy 36 years 168 days7 October 198716 March 2024Flag of England.svg  England
8 Peter Clohessy 36 years 15 days22 March 19666 April 2002Flag of France.svg  France
9 Paul O'Connell 35 years 356 days20 October 197912 October 2015Flag of France.svg  France
10 Ronan O'Gara 35 years 354 days7 March 197724 February 2013Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

Team margins

Biggest winning margin

MarginDateGameGround
8010 June 2000Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3–83 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Singer Family Park, Manchester, New Hampshire, US
749 September 2023IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 82–8 Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
7014 November 1998IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 70–0 Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
6911 November 2000IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 78–9 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
6110 July 2021IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 71–10 Flag of the United States.svg  United States Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
601 November 1986IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 60–0 Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
5719 October 2003IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 64–7 Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia
556 November 2021IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 60–5 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
8 November 2008IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 55–0 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Thomond Park, Limerick, Republic of Ireland
30 August 2003IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 61–6 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Thomond Park, Limerick, Republic of Ireland

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

Biggest losing margin

MarginDateGameGround
6023 June 2012Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 60–0 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand
536 June 1992Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 59–6 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Athletic Park, Wellington, New Zealand
4815 November 1997IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 15–63 Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
4224 August 2019Flag of England.svg  England 57–15 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Twickenham, London, England
4015 February 1997IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 6–46 Flag of England.svg  England Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
396 April 2002Flag of France.svg  France 44–5 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Stade de France, Paris, France
3812 June 2010Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 66–28 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand
12 November 2005IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 7–45 Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
30 November 1912IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 0–38 Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
3630 March 2003IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 6–42 Flag of England.svg  England Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Last updated: Ireland vs Scotland, 16 March 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only. [2]

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References

  1. "Thomas Gordon Profile". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Statistics". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  3. "International Matches Record List". stats.espnscrum.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  4. "Ireland Squad | Profiles : Irish Rugby". Irishrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  5. "ESPNScrum Stasguru Overall Points Record". espnscrum.com. 23 September 2019. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  6. "IRELAND". Six Nations Rugby. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  7. "Six Nations: Total Points Scored". stats.espnscrum.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  8. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Brian O'Driscoll / Test matches (filter: as captain)". Scrum.com. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  9. "Poll: Who is the greatest Irish rugby captain of all time?". JOE. Retrieved 16 March 2023.