Rugby union in Ireland

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Rugby union is a popular team sport played in Ireland. The sport is organised on an all-Ireland basis with one team, governing body and league for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Contents 1 History 2 Governing body 3 Competitions 4 Popularity 4.1 Statistics 4.2 Demographics 4.3 Current trends 5 The national team 6 See also 7 External links 8 References

[edit] History

During the 1860s and 1870s, Rugby along with Association football started to become popular in Ireland. Trinity College, Dublin was an early stronghold of Rugby. According to Jack Mahon, even in the Irish countryside, the traditional sport of caid had begun to give way to a "rough-and-tumble game" which even allowed tripping.

The early days of Irish rugby union were dominated by Unionists, though legend goes that the locals only played the sport only because they wanted to beat the English at their own game.

Nowadays rugby is played by both Nationalists and Unionists. It tends to be popular with different social groups in different parts of Ireland. In Munster, it is more of a working class game, in Dublin an upper class game, whilst in Northern Ireland it is traditionally played in the mainly Protestant grammar schools.

The conversion of rugby from amateurism to professionalism led to the IRFU using the provincial structure to create 4 professional teams, with the Irish players on these teams on central contracts to the IRFU, meaning they, not the provinces control when the players play and when they rest. Professionalism has on the whole been very good for the top level of Irish rugby. The national team has won several triple crowns and whilst is unlikely to win the 2007 World Cup is able to play at a competitive level with all the world's rugby giants, having beaten all but New Zealand in the last 5 years.

Ireland's provinces have also been successful in the professional era. Ulster won the European Cup in 1999 and for the last 5 years Munster and Leinster have regularly featured in the latter stages of the competition, culminating in Munsters win in 2006. In the Celtic League the provinces are regular winners or near the top of the league. In 2006 the big three Irish provinces finished in the top three places of the league, Ulster claiming the title with a dramatic last second drop goal ensuring they finished above Leinster.

The level below the provinces, the clubs, have probably suffered somewhat in the professional era. Top players play almost exclusively for their provinces with only rare outings for clubs, usually as a result of returing from injury or loss of form. Changes are underway in the club structure to try and make it more attractive, whilst maintaining club ethos.

[edit] Governing body

Main article: Irish Rugby Football Union

The Irish Rugby Football Union are the governing body for rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU is divided into four branches which represent the four provinces of Ireland: Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht.

[edit] Competitions

Irish provinces compete in the Celtic League, now sponsored by Magners, against Welsh regions and Scotland super-districts. The Irish provinces also compete in the Heineken Cup and Connacht compete in the European Challenge Cup.

Competitions have taken place since the late 1800s with the modern day Inter Provincial Championship between Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connacht first contested in 1920.

Another focus for the domestic game in Ireland is the All Ireland League. This was started in 1990 and has now expanded to three divisions.

[edit] Popularity

Rugby union is common throughout Ireland, but is especially popular in Munster (County Limerick is known as the home of Irish rugby union), Ulster and Dublin

[edit] Statistics

According to the IRB Ireland has 201 rugby union clubs; 614 referees; 25,000 pre-teen male players; 35,000 teen male players; 14,500 senior male players (total male players 74,500) as well as 10,000 pre-teen female players; 800 teen female players; 1,200 senior female players (total female players 12,000).

[edit] Demographics

In Northern Ireland rugby union has traditionally been seen as a unionist sport with nationalists preferring to play Gaelic Athletic Association sports.

In many ways secondary schools are the heart of rugby union in Ireland. Notable rugby union schools include Crescent College, Presentation Brothers College, Cork, Christian Brothers College, Cork, St. Conleth's College, Rockwell College, Clongowes Wood College, Belvedere College, Blackrock College, CBC, Castleknock College and the Belfast giants the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Methodist College Belfast.

[edit] Current trends

The professional era and the advent of the Celtic League and Heineken Cup has seen rugby union become a major spectator sport in Ireland. European Cup games are generally well supported in all the provinces with sell outs the norm and massive crowds in Dublin's Lansdowne Road for the Quarter and Semis which Munster and Leinster have reached. Ulster have led the Celtic League attendences for 3 years in the row and Munster and Leinster's crowds have grown year on year. All the big three provinces are planning major ground upgrades to increase capacity and comfort.

Ireland international games sell out against all but the weakest opposition, and with the team playing at Croke Park this year the attendences may reach 80,000.

[edit] The national team

Main article: Ireland national rugby union team

The Ireland national team are considered by the IRB to be in the first tier.

Ireland contest the Millennium Trophy with England as part of the Six Nations Championship.

Every four years the British and Irish Lions go on tour with players from Ireland as well as England, Scotland and Wales.

[edit] See also

• Sport in Ireland
• Sport in the United Kingdom

[edit] External links

• Irish Rugby Football Union
• Irish rugby union news from Planet Rugby

[edit] References

• Rugby Union, Irish Nationalism and National Identity in Northern Ireland
• IRB statistics for Ireland