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The Ireland rugby team is one of the sport’s oldest and most skillful sides. The team was formed in 1874 and they played their first
international match in 1875. Today, Ireland play their home games at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Ireland competes annually at the Six
Nations Championship. Here they have won 16 outright titles and four
Grand Slams. They also participate in the Rugby World Cup, where they
regularly advance to the knockout stages. However, the Irish side is yet to win the tournament.
Despite RWC disappointment, the Ireland
rugby team has reached the top position in the World Rugby Rankings.
They first secured their position as world number one in 2019, before
claiming the crown again in 2022 and 2023.
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Countries There's life after Sexton SPOTLIGHT: Two-time defending Six Nations champions Ireland are in "good shape" though it is disappointing that the question of who should fill the pivotal flyhalf role vacated by Johnny Sexton is yet to be settled a year on, former Irish international Hugo MacNeill told AFP.
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South Africa Versus the Ireland Rugby Team
Ireland and South Africa have a rich and competitive rugby history.
The teams first met in Belfast in 1906, when the visitors beat the Irish side 15-12. Ireland finally overpowered South Africa for the first time in 1965 – this was their only victory prior to 2000 – before producing
three successive wins between 2004 and 2008.
Both Ireland and
South Africa compete at the Rugby World Cup. However, they have
encountered each other just once, which was at the 2023 tournament. On
this occasion, Ireland emerged victorious, defeating South Africa 13-8
in their pool-stage match.
However, despite Ireland’s recent
successes, South Africa still maintains the upper hand when it comes to
matches between the two countries. As of 2024, they’ve won more than 60% of the matches between the two teams.
Want to know how the
Ireland rugby team is progressing this season? Check back regularly for
the latest Irish rugby news and updates.