- Brian O'Driscoll
Brian Gerard O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979) is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland national rugby union team, and was captain of the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. After leading Ireland to the 2007 RBS Six Nations Triple Crown success, he was voted player of the tournament, exactly the same as 2006. Registered at Blackrock College RFC, he plays at outside for the Irish provincial team Leinster.
- Willie John McBride
William James McBride, MBE, better known as Willie John McBride (born June 6 1940, Toomebridge, County Antrim) is a former rugby union player who played for Ireland and the British Lions. He played 62 Tests for Ireland including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times - a record that gave him 17 Lions Test caps.
- Keith Wood
Keith Wood (born 27 January 1972 in Killaloe) is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, the Lions, Garryowen, Harlequins and Munster. He was nicknamed 'The Raging Potato' because of his bald head. He was also known as 'Uncle Fester' due to his resemblance to a character in "The Addams Family". His father, Gordon Wood, played prop 29 times for Ireland. He now works for the BBC.
- Eddie O'Sullivan
Eddie O'Sullivan (born November 21 1958) is the current head coach of the Ireland rugby union team. O'Sullivan was born in Youghal, County Cork, in the Republic of Ireland. After attending the Christian Brothers school in the town, he graduated from Thomond College, part of the University of Limerick.
- Mike Gibson
Cameron Michael Henderson ("Mike") Gibson MBE (born 3 December 1942 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a former Irish rugby union footballer. He first played for Ireland in 1964, and earned his 69th and final cap against Australia in 1979 at age 36. A versatile player, he represented his country at four different positions. Gibson had a distinguished international career, which ran for fifteen years and saw him line out a record 69 times for Ireland.
- Ronan O'Gara
Ronan John Ross O'Gara (born 7 March 1977, San Diego, California, USA) is an Irish rugby union footballer, occupying the fly-half position (usually called "out half" in Ireland and "first five-eighths" in New Zealand) for both Munster and Ireland. He toured with the Lions on their tours to Australia in 2001, and New Zealand in 2005 - although he only managed one Test cap (off the bench in the 3rd Test v New Zealand, 2005).
- Malcolm O'Kelly
Malcolm O'Kelly (born 19 July 1974 in Chelmsford, England) is an Irish rugby player who currently plays as a lock for Ireland internationally and Leinster at club level. The 6'8" (2.03 m) O'Kelly, who made his international debut in 1997 against New Zealand, has become a talisman of the Irish side. He became Ireland's all-time caps leader, surpassing Mike Gibson, on 12 February 2005 when he started in Ireland's Six Nations fixture against Scotland.
- David Humphreys
David Humphreys MBE (born 10 September 1971 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is an Irish rugby union footballer who plays fly-half for Ulster. He won 72 caps for Ireland. Humphreys was educated at Ballymena Academy, the Queen's University of Belfast and Oxford University. Humphreys has represented Ireland at A, U21 and schools levels and has also been capped for the Barbarians. He led the Ireland Schools' side to the Triple Crown back in 1992 when he was at Ballymena Academy.
- Gordon D'Arcy
Gordon William D'Arcy (born February 10 1980 in Wexford) is an Irish rugby player, more specifically an inside centre. He plays his club rugby for the Irish provincial and Magners League side Leinster. D'Arcy was a promising fullback for schools side Clongowes Wood in the late 1990s, and on the eve of his Leaving Cert was called into the Irish squad for the tour of South Africa by coach Warren Gatland. However, because of his studies he declined that opportunity.
- Paul O'Connell
Paul O'Connell (born 20 October 1979 in Limerick) is an Irish rugby union player who plays lock for Munster and Ireland. O'Connell made his debut for Ireland against Wales in the Six Nations 2002, scoring a try. He was a part of Ireland's Rugby World Cup 2003 squad, and, in the first game of the Six Nations 2004, against France, he was stand-in captain for the injured Brian O'Driscoll. He toured with the 2005 British and Irish Lions to New Zealand, …
- Shane Horgan
Shane Patrick Horgan (born 18 July, 1978 in Bellewstown near Drogheda), County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is 6'4", tall for a winger, and imposing for any opposing wingers. Horgan joined the Lansdowne Club in Dublin on leaving school in 1997, making his debut for Leinster in 1998. To date has played for the province 52 times in the Heineken Cup scoring 18 tries and a drop goal for a combined total of 93 points.
- Geordan Murphy
Geordan Edward Andrew Murphy (born 19 April 1978 in Naas, Co. Kildare) is an Irish rugby union footballer who is the fiance of the singer-songwriter Lucie Silvas and plays wing or fullback for the English club Leicester Tigers and Ireland. He was officially named George after his father but his mother called him Geordan to avoid confusion. His six brothers and sister all played rugby union. Geordan was educated at Newbridge College, Newbridge, Co.
- Peter Stringer
Peter Alexander Stringer (born 13 December 1977) is an Irish rugby union footballer who plays at scrum half for Munster and Ireland. He is one of the most recognisable players in world rugby as Stringer is one of the smallest players at 5 ft 7 inches (170 cm) tall and weighing in at just over 70kgs (152lbs). In February 2000, he made his debut for Ireland against Scotland in the Six Nations Championship.
- Jack Kyle
John Wilson Kyle (born 10 February, 1926 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a former Irish rugby union footballer. His usual position was at fly-half, where he played for the Irish rugby team, gaining 46 caps in total from 1946 to 1958. In 1999 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. Kyle played in Ireland's first match after the Second World War and guided Ireland to a Five Nations grand slam in 1948.
- Donncha O'Callaghan
Donncha O'Callaghan (pronounced "Dunaca")(born March 23, 1979) is an Irish rugby union footballer, who was educated at Christian Brothers College, Cork, although he began his rugby education on the training pitches of Highfield Rugby Club, on the Model Farm Road in Cork, with expert tutelage in the ways of the 'Field from the likes of club talisman Ted Stack. He plays as a lock for Munster and Ireland. He is 6 ft 6 ins tall and weighs over 17 stone (238 lb).
- Mick Doyle
Mick Doyle (October 13, 1941 - May 11, 2004) was an Irish rugby international player and coach. Doyle was born in Castleisland, County Kerry, and began playing Rugby Union at Newbridge College, County Kildare. He went on to study vetinary science at University College Dublin, who he also represented at rugby. He made his Ireland debut against France on January 23, 1965, scoring a try during the game. While representing Ireland, he also studied at Cambridge University, …
- David Wallace
David Wallace (born 8 July 1976 in Limerick) and educated at Crescent College. He is a pacy rugby union openside flanker, a key member of the Irish international team and Munster Rugby province. He has also played blindside flank, number eight and wing for Munster. He toured Australia with the 2001 British and Irish Lions following in the footsteps of his brothers Richard and Paul. Three lengthy injury-enforced absences have hindered Wallace's international development.
- Andrew Trimble
Andrew Trimble assumed the appointment Director of Information Services in the summer of 2008. A native of Belfast, he has spent most of the last thirty years living abroad. He completed a number of executive appointments in Whitehall, in Berlin, Brussels. From 2001-4, spent three years on the staff of the British Embassy, Washington. Andrew is married and lives in Co. Down with his wife, their two sons and a collection of animals.
- Peter Clohessy
Peter Martin Noel Clohessy (born 22 March 1966 in Limerick) is a former Irish rugby union footballer. He was a prop and known as "The Claw". His first game for the Ireland national rugby union team was against France at Lansdowne Road on 20 February 1993 and he gained 54 caps. He now owns a pub in Limerick called Claws and an adjoining night club called "The Sin Bin
- Denis Leamy
Denis Leamy (born 27 November 1981 in Cashel) and educated at Rockwell College and University College Cork. He helped his school to win the Munster Junior Cup in 1997 and get them to the final of the Munster Senior Schools Final, losing narrowly to Christians of Cork in 2000. He is a powerful rugby union back row forward who can play either blind side flanker or at number 8. He is capped at international level with Ireland and plays club rugby for Munster.
- Girvan Dempsey
Girvan Dempsey (born 2 October 1975 in Dublin) is a rugby union footballer who plays at full back for Leinster and Ireland. His parents, showing remarkable prescience, named him Girvan (frequently shortened to Girve), ensuring that his many ardent supporters could attach the moniker "Swerve" to his name, or more commonly - "Girv the Swerve". He continues to vindicate this worthy title.
- Fergus Slattery
Fergus Slattery was born in Dublin on 12th February, 1949. He played schools rugby for Blackrock College and then moved on to play senior rugby for University College Dublin, before earning a call up to the Irish international side in 1970. During his career Slattery earned 61 caps, 18 as captain and scored 3 tries. In 1971 he was selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions to Australia and New Zealand.
- Simon Easterby
Simon Easterby (born on July 21, 1975, Harrogate, North Yorkshire) is a rugby union player for Llanelli Scarlets, whom he captains, and Ireland. He plays at blindside. His father is English and his mother Irish. He is the brother of Brother Easterby, also an Ireland international. He was educated at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire.
- Isaac Boss
Isaac Boss (born 9 April 1980 in Tokoroa) is a New Zealand-born Irish rugby union footballer. His Grandmother was born in Glenarm, County Antrim, and this qualifies him to play for Ireland. He plays scrum-half or fullback for Ulster and the Ireland national team. He has so far scored three tries for Ulster. He weighs 79kg and is 1.78m tall.
- Alan Quinlan
Alan Quinlan (born 13 July, 1974) is an Irish rugby player. He plays for Munster. He is typically an blindside flank, but has also played openside, number eight and second row for Munster. He started at openside in Munster's Miracle Match against Gloucester in 2003. He captained the side from Number Eight in Munster's upset victory over Ulster in Ravenhill in the 2007 Magner's League. He made his debut for the Irish national team in 1999 in a Test against Romania in Dublin.
- Simon Best
Simon Best (born 11 February 1978) is an Irish rugby union footballer. He plays for Ulster. Simon is the brother of the Ireland and Ulster hooker Rory Best. He was educated at Portadown College and has also represented Ireland national rugby union teamIreland at Schools, U19, U21, U25 and A levels.
- Eoin Reddan
Eoin Reddan is a rugby union player. He plays scrum half for London Wasps. Eoin began his playing career in Old Crescent at the tender age of 12 under the stewardship of David Noddy Nolan. He captained his school side Crescent College Comprehensive and also represented Ireland at all levels in school. He joined Wasps from Munster and has since made the number 9 shirt his own. He has recently received call ups to the Ireland national rugby union team.
- Tommy Bowe
Thomas John Bowe (born 22 February 1984) is an Irish rugby union footballer from Monaghan, Ireland. He plays on the wing for Ulster and Ireland. A former pupil of The Royal School, Armagh, Northern Ireland, Bowe made his international debut against the USA during the 2004 IRB Autumn Internationals becoming the first player from County Monaghan to win an Ireland cap since the 1920s. He marked his introduction to test rugby with a second half try.
- Rory Best
Rory Best (born 15 August 1982) from Poyntzpass is an Irish rugby union footballer. He plays for Ulster. Rory is the brother of Ireland and Ulster prop Simon Best. He was educated at Portadown College. He made his Ireland debut against the All-Blacks at Lansdowne Road in November 2005.
- Warren Gatland
Warren David Gatland (born 17 September 1963 in Hamilton, New Zealand and educated at Hamilton Boys' High School and Waikato University) is a former All Black and the current Coach of the Waikato Air New Zealand Cup team. Gatland's first game as an All Black was in 1988, when he is said to have introduced to their training sessions a part Australian Rules, part Gaelic football game which was well received by the other players.
- Ollie Campbell
Ollie Campbell (born March 5 1954) was an Irish rugby union player from 1976 to 1984. He was educated at Belvedere College, a famous Irish rugby school, where his natural talent at rugby, especially his goal-kicking, shone through. This was shown when he was on the teams that won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup twice in a row in 1971 and 1972. It was only in 2005 that the College next won the cup, despite being in countless Finals and Semi-Finals.
- Luke Fitzgerald
Luke Fitzgerald (born 13 September 1987) is a Rugby Union footballer. He currently plays at full back or centre for Leinster. Having previously studied at Blackrock College he won two Leinster Schools Senior Cups, in 2004 and 2006, but losing to Belvedere College in 2005. He won his first cap for Ireland in November 2006.
- Willie Anderson
Willie Anderson, born 3 April 1955 in Sixmilecross, is a former Ireland international, who then became assistant coach of the Scotland national rugby union team under head coach Matt Williams. Willie attended Omagh Academy Grammar School where he honed his rugby skills. Willie captained the school to their only final Ulster Schools Cup final appearance in 1985, only to lose 12 - 3 to Bangor Grammar School at Ravenhill.
- Neil Best
Neil Best (born 3 April 1979 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a rugby union footballer, He plays for Ulster and Ireland. Best is in his fourth season with Ulster, and is unrelated to namesake Simon Best and Rory Best. Educated at Newtownbreda High School and later at Wellington College (Belfast), Best was a relative late comer to rugby, starting his career with Malone RFC. He has a BSc and MA in chemical engineering.
- Jonny Wilkinson
Jonathan Peter "Jonny" Wilkinson OBE (born 25 May 1979 in Frimley, Surrey) is an English rugby union player and member of the England rugby union team. From 2001-2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson rose to fame for being one of the world’s best rugby players. He was an integral member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup winning England squad, scoring the winning drop goal in the last minute of extra time against Australia.
- Anthony Foley
Anthony ("Axel") Foley (born on 30 October 1973) is an Irish rugby union footballer. Anthony Foley made his debut for Ireland against England on 21 January 1995 and is one of few players from the amateur era still involved at international level. Anthony was dropped straight after this try scoring debut for Ireland and didn't figure in the Irish international set up for a while.
- Tony Ward
Anthony Joseph Patrick Ward, commonly referred to as Tony Ward, was an Irish rugby union player and soccer player during the 1970s and 1980s. He currently works as a sports journalist for the "Irish Independent" and as a rugby commentator for RTE. He played rugby as a fly-half for, among others ,Munster, Leinster, Ireland, the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians.
- Ronnie Dawson
A. R. "Ronnie" Dawson (born June 5, 1932 in Dublin, Ireland) played hooker for Ireland and was Captain of the British and Irish Lions rugby team on their 1959 tour to Australia and New Zealand. Ronnie was educated in St. Andrew's College in Dublin, …
- Andy Mulligan
Andrew (Andy) Armstrong Mulligan, was born on 4 February 1936 et Kasauli, a small cantonment town in Solan district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, and died on 24 February 2001. He was a rugby international who captained Ireland and the British Lions, playing at scrum half.
- Kevin Maggs
Kevin Michael Maggs (born 3 June 1974) is an Irish rugby union player who plays at Centre for Ulster. He transferred from Bath in Summer 2004, where he had spent six years and previously seven years at Bristol. He made his international for Ireland debut against New Zealand in November 1997 and played at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cup. It was announced on the 10th January 2007 that he had signed for Bristol Rugby.