Team facts

The Ireland national rugby union team is the representative of both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in rugby union. They have won eleven Six Nations Championships outright, and have also reached the quarter final stage of the Rugby World Cup in all but two years. In the years 2003 and 2006, Ireland reached the standing of third in the IRB World Rankings, their highest ever. Many of Ireland's players have contributed to the prestige and triumphs of Ireland in international rugby. Jack Kyle, both an International Rugby Hall of Famer and IRB Hall of Famer, was chosen as one of the six players of the year by New Zealand Rugby Almanac in the 1950s. International Hall of Fame inductee Keith Wood was declared the inaugural IRB International Player of the Year in 2001. Brian O'Driscoll is said to be one of the best rugby players in the world, leading his team to their second Grand Slam in 2009.