Header Image: Photo by Nayla Charo on Pexels.com
Rugby Union is one of the four most popular team sports in Ireland, after Soccer, Gaelic Football and Hurling. There is a Pro League operating at the highest level with teams in Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht as well as Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa, the top teams of which qualify for the Champions Cup involving the Top French and English sides.
There is also an All-Ireland League for Club sides below this and Four Provincial Leagues below this again. Women’s Rugby has gained in popularity in recent decades and there is an All-Ireland League fed by Provincial Leagues. Variations on the sport include Rugby Sevens, Tag & Touch Rugby (non-contact) and Wheelchair Rugby.
Below you will find links to the Results and Tables for a variety of competitions.
The Irish Rugby Football Union governs Rugby Union on the island of Ireland, running the All-Ireland League, and sending International Teams to the 6 Nations, World Cup and various other International Rugby Board competitions.
International Rugby Board
Picture Credit: Paulo Bona / Shutterstock.com PARIS, FRANCE-SEPTEMBER 22, 2007: irish and french players with fighting for the ball during the match France vs Ireland, of the Rugby World Cup, in Paris. [Accessed 4 May 2021]
International Rugby Board
IRB Rugby World Cup; 6 Nations; Autumn Nations Cup
IRB Rugby World Cup
IRB Europe Zone Qualifying(Editions):
IRB Pacific Zone Qualifying (Editions):
IRB Africa Zone Qualifying (Editions):
IRB Americas Zone Qualifying (Editions):
IRB Asia Zone Qualifying (Editions):
6 Nations
Guinness Men’s 6 Nations (Results):
Autumn Nations Cup
ANC (Seasons):
United / Celtic Rugby
United Rugby Championship Seasons
Pro14 Rugby (Seasons):
Pro 14 Rainbow Cup (Seasons):
World Rugby
IRB Major Rugby Leagues (Season Tables):
Irish Rugby Football Union
IRFU Rugby Union
Irish Rugby Football Union
IRFU All Ireland League (Overviews):
Irish Rugby Football Union All-Ireland League Division 1 1998-2009
Irish Rugby Football Union All-Ireland League Division 1 1991-1998
Women’s Rugby
Picture Credit: August 17th, 2019, Cork, Ireland – Action from the Munster Women Rugby (38) vs Ulster Women Rugby (12) match at the Irish Independent Park. By D. Ribeiro / shutterstock.com [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/august-17th-2019-cork-ireland-action-1481338331 [Accessed 2 June 2021]
Women’s Rugby
6 Nations; IRFU; Leinster Rugby
Women’s 6 Nations Rugby Championship
Women’s 6 Nations Rugby Championship 2017-2020
Womens 6 Nations Rugby Championship 2007-2016
Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Women (Seasons):
IRFU Women’s All-Ireland League (Seasons):
Leinster Rugby Women’s Leagues
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Senior League
Connacht Senior League
Connacht Senior League (Seasons):
Leinster Rugby
Metro / Leinster Junior Rugby
Leinster Junior Club
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Junior 1 Club (Seasons):
Leinster Junior 2 Club (Seasons):
Leinster Junior 3 Club (Seasons):
Leinster Junior 4 Club (Seasons):
Leinster Junior League
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Junior 1 League (Seasons):
Leinster Junior 2 League (Seasons):
Leinster Junior 3 League (Seasons):
Leinster Junior 4 League (Seasons):
Other Rugby
Wheelchair Rugby
Rugby Sevens
Tag Rugby
Touch Rugby
Rugby League
This is the Eirball.world Archive of Irish Rugby League and Wheelchair Rugby. It is an Ongoing Project and is part of the Eirball.ie – Irish, North American and World Sports Archives
Irish Rugby League
Rugby League Ireland Logo [Ref: 1]
Rugby League is most popular in Australia and Northern England. It differs from Rugby Union in having two less players (13 as opposed to 15) and no scrums or lineouts.
It has been played in Ireland since Rugby Union players set up the Dublin Blues in the 1990s as a way of keeping fit during the rugby union off-season. The first Irish Rugby League season was in 1996, but the League didn’t play the 2000 season due to the decision by the Rugby League Authorities in England to no longder fund it. It was restarted in 2001 under a new administration: Rugby League Ireland.
In 2007 a separate Elite League was created with the Emerald Conference as a second level. Folowing this experiment the All-Ireland Championships were reinstated in 1010, featuring Leinster, Munster and Ulster Leagues, with an All Ireland Playoff. There is currently a League run on Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland basis with an All-Ireland Grand Final.
There is also EuroTag – a European version of Tag Rugby and RL Nines – full contact but with reduced numbers.
Below you will find links to the Results and Tables of various competitions in Ireland and involving Irish teams.
RLI Irish Rugby League Overviews
RLI Irish Rugby League (Level 1 Overviews):
Rugby League Ireland Irish Rugby League 2015-2019
Rugby League Ireland All Ireland Championships 2010-2014
Rugby League Ireland Elite League 2007-2009
Rugby League Ireland Irish Conference 2001-2006
RLI Irish Rugby League (Level 2 Overviews):
Rugby League Ireland Emerald Rugby Conference 2007-2009
Rugby League Ireland Seasons
RLI Irish Rugby League (Seasons):
RLI All Ireland Championships (Seasons):
RLI Elite League (Seasons):
RLI Irish Conference (Seasons):
RLI National Conference (Seasons):
RLI Irish Challenge Cup
RLI Irish Challenge Cup (Seasons):