query: who do northern ireland rugby players play for

pos: Ireland national rugby union team Ireland national rugby union team The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. They are ranked second in the world by World Rugby as of 19 November 2018. The team competes annually in the current Six Nations Championship, which they have won fourteen times outright and shared nine times in its various formats. The team also competes every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions (1999 and 2007). Ireland is also one of the four unions that make up the British and Irish

pos: Dave Kearney Nations Championship when Ireland won their 12th Championship title, being one of only 3 players to play the full 80 minutes in every game, along with his brother Rob, and Jamie Heaslip. Dave Kearney Dave Kearney (born 19 June 1989), is an Irish rugby union player who plays wing and fullback for Lansdowne, Leinster and Ireland. Kearney was born on 19 June 1989 in Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland. He attended Clongowes Wood College. Kearney's older brother, Rob starts at fullback for Leinster and the Ireland national rugby union team. Kearney played his first match for Leinster on 16 May 2009

pos: 1899 Ireland rugby union tour of Canada 1899 Ireland rugby union tour of Canada 1899 Ireland rugby union tour of Canada. Twenty four years after their first international, the Ireland national rugby union team embarked on their first ever international tour in October 1899. Seventeen players were selected to make the journey to Canada but no caps were awarded. Three clubs – Dublin University, Lansdowne and North of Ireland FC – provided fifteen of these players. Ireland often had to field just fourteen players due to injuries. Among those to be injured was James Myles who broke his leg. Myles, who was later elected as an independent

pos: Sport in Ireland province and national levels. The Ireland national team is composed of players from both Northern Ireland and the Republic, and the Irish Rugby Football Union governs the sport throughout the island. Success at international level and the establishment of four professional teams has increased interest in rugby union as a sport in Ireland. As of 2018, the Ireland national rugby union team was ranked 2nd in the World Rugby Rankings. Also in 2018, at the World Rugby Awards, Ireland were presented with a 'hat-trick' of awards, with Jonathan Sexton winning the Player of the Year, Joe Schmidt the Coach of

neg: Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics be determined by the three nations and the British Olympic Association. As is the case with olympic boxing, rugby in Ireland is organised on an all-island basis. This means that Northern Irish players who have chosen to represent Ireland in rugby, despite the fact that they are residents of the UK, must play for the IRFU and thus must compete for Ireland. Northern Irish players who have qualified to play international rugby for the other home nations could still play for Great Britain. Another issue was to make Brazil's automatically qualifying team competitive. In an attempt to address this for

neg: Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament Football Union for England, Welsh Rugby Union, Scottish Rugby Union and the combined Irish Rugby Football Union for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland), which meant should one of either the England, Wales or Scotland teams qualify, then Great Britain would be awarded a spot in the Olympic Games. It was decided players based in Northern Ireland were not eligible to represent Great Britain in the rugby sevens tournament as these players represent the IRFU, and the union demanded that Northern Irish players that have committed to play for the Irish rugby union, only play for Ireland despite being

neg: Great Britain women's national rugby sevens team Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland together, demanded that Northern Irish players only play for the Ireland national rugby sevens team. However, it was stated that Northern Irish players could legally challenge that demand, particularly if Ireland failed to qualify due to differences in World Rugby and IOC qualifying criteria. Great Britain women's national rugby sevens team The Great Britain national rugby sevens team is the women's Olympic representative team of Great Britain at the rugby sevens tournament at the Summer Olympic Games. The team played their first competitive match at the 2016 Summer Olympics after England finished in

neg: Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament was decided players based in Northern Ireland were not eligible to represent Great Britain in the rugby sevens tournament as these players represent the IRFU, and the union demanded that Northern Irish players, that have committed to play for the Irish rugby union, only play for Ireland despite being eligible under IOC rules to compete for Great Britain. The three remaining unions agreed in advance of the 2013–14 Sevens World Series that their highest-finishing teams in that season would represent all three unions in the first stage of qualification. On 11 April 2016, World Rugby announced a panel of twelve

neg: Ireland national schoolboy rugby union team Ireland national schoolboy rugby union team The Irish Schoolboys rugby union team is the national team for secondary school students and under-18 school players in Ireland. There is an equivalent Ireland under 18 clubs side that play international rugby. The Irish Schoolboys side represents the nation against youths of other nations. They provide a starting point for Ireland qualified players that has led to players representing the National Team, Ireland A, Development, Provincial, Students, Irish U-20 and AIL teams. Currently in both the Republic and Northern Ireland there are 246 Schools playing rugby; Ulster (107), Leinster (75), Munster (41) and

neg: Great Britain national rugby sevens team World Series. While England was the team that qualified Great Britain for the Olympics, the Great Britain national rugby sevens team is able to select players from Wales and Scotland as well as England similar to the British and Irish Lions in rugby union. Northern Irish players according to the British Olympic Association's rules as British citizens would have been eligible to play for Great Britain; however the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) demanded that they only play for the Ireland national rugby sevens team as rugby in Ireland is organised on an All-Ireland basis. However, it was stated that

neg: Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics all three unions in the first stage of qualification in both 2014–15 series. The England men's and women's teams earned the right to represent the British unions in that stage of their respective competitions. The unions will then decide the composition of the Great Britain team. Players based in Northern Ireland are part of the Irish Rugby Football Union and the IRFU demanded that Northern Irish players, that have committed to play for the Irish rugby union, only play for Ireland despite being eligible under IOC rules to compete for Great Britain. The world governing body for the sport renamed

neg: All-Ireland League (rugby union) All-Ireland League (rugby union) The All-Ireland League (AIL), known for sponsorship reasons as the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League, is the national league system for the 50 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The league was inaugurated in the 1990–91 season. The league is the second highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as professional teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play in the Pro14. Division 1 sides are allowed to field only two professional players in their matchday sides, and only one may be a forward. Professional players may not

neg: FIFA eligibility rules as well as of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI - Republic of Ireland). In contrast, players born in the Republic of Ireland do not have such dual nationality from birth and, as a consequence, are confined to playing for the teams of the FAI and cannot play for Northern Ireland unless they have a parent or grandparent who was born there. Players otherwise eligible for Northern Ireland do not need a UK passport if they have an Irish passport. A 2006 FIFA decision to require a UK passport was reversed after a month of IFA protests, with intervention from

neg: Rugby sevens Miller endorsed the concept of a combined British sevens team in 2011 for the 2016 Olympics and beyond. Another issue is the status of Northern Ireland. World Rugby recognises the Irish Rugby Football Union as the sport's governing body for the entire island of Ireland. By contrast, the International Olympic Committee recognises the British Olympic Association as the governing body of the UK Olympic team, while the Olympic Council of Ireland usually fields teams representing all of Ireland in sports which are organised on an all-Ireland basis. Northern Irish sevens players play for the Irish team. In the men's competition

neg: Rugby league in Ireland up of players from the domestic Irish competition. Until recently the Great Britain team were known as 'Great Britain and Ireland' and Irish players were able to play for them. Brian Carney (rugby footballer) is a rare example of a player who played in the Irish league and then gained a professional contract with Super League club Wigan Warriors, he went on to play for Great Britain and Ireland. Ireland also has a strong students Wolfhounds team who competed in the 2008 Students world cup and finished 2nd in the student's 4 nations tournament in 2009. Rugby league in Ireland

neg: British Isles tours of the Southern Hemisphere rugby-playing nations every four years. Ireland play as a united team, represented by players from both Northern Ireland and the Republic. These national rugby teams play each other each year for the Triple Crown as part of the Six Nations Championship. Also, since 2001, the professional club teams of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy compete against each other in the Pro14. The Ryder Cup in golf was originally played between a United States team and a team representing Great Britain and Ireland. From 1979 onwards this was expanded to include the whole of Europe. London

neg: Ireland national rugby union team Lions – players eligible to play for Ireland are also eligible for the Lions. The Ireland national team dates to 1875, when it played its first international match against England. Ireland's highest ever position in the World Rugby Rankings is second, which they reached for the first time in 2015. Eleven former Ireland players have earned induction into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Dublin University was the first organised rugby football club in Ireland, having been founded in 1854. The club was organised by students who had learnt the game while at public schools in Great Britain. During the

neg: Dundee and play against teams from England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the Elite League. The majority of the players are from Canada and the United States. There are also two amateur ice hockey teams, Dundee Tigers and Dundee Comets, who both play in the Scottish National League. The city is also home to six rugby union teams. Dundee High School Former Pupils play in Scottish National League Division One, the second tier of Scottish club rugby. The remainder of the teams compete in the Caledonia Regional League - Harris Academy FP play in Caledonia Division One, Morgan Academy FP and

neg: Suttonians RFC represent Leinster and Ireland at under-age level and often do not return to the nest, instead favouring the lure of AIL Division 1 rugby after leaving school. Players such as Aidan Kearney (Leinster / Ulster) who returned to play and coach with Suttonians, and in recent years Dave O'Brien (Leinster Academy / Ireland U20) and Ian Keatley (Munster / Ireland U20) have taken this route. Former Leinster, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force hooker Tom Sexton started playing rugby in Suttonians' Minis set-up. The Minis 'exodus' impacts hardest at Youths level (age 13-18) as Suttonians has been in a position where

neg: Nathan Amos Nathan Amos Nathan Amos (; born August 11, 1979) is an international rugby union player for Israel. Amos is one of the only Israeli rugby players that played his trade abroad and is the most capped player in Israel . Amos played for Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club in Northern Ireland from 2002 to 2011. He moved to play in the Rugby-Bundesliga for TV Pforzheim in the start of the 2011–12 season where Pforzheim finished as runners up. In January 2013 he returned to Israel to play for ASA Tel Aviv Rugby Club with them he won the Israeli championship

neg: Cricket at the Summer Olympics to represent either Great Britain or Ireland. In cricket, Scotland has its own team, Welsh players play for the England team, and the Ireland team represents the Republic and Northern Ireland together. In rugby, Team GB have to nominate one Home Nations team whose results will be used to determine whether Great Britain as a whole qualifies for the Olympics, but players from all the Home Nations can play for the combined team according to the usual Olympic rules. The West Indies cricket team covers much of the Caribbean, which has several Olympic associations including Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica,

neg: Rugby league league" football. In 1895, a schism in Rugby football resulted in the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU). Although many factors played a part in the split, including the success of working class northern teams, the main division was caused by the RFU decision to enforce the amateur principle of the sport, preventing "broken time payments" to players who had taken time off work to play rugby. Northern teams typically had more working class players (coal miners, mill workers etc.) who could not afford to play without this compensation, in contrast to affluent southern teams who had other

neg: Ireland national schoolboy rugby union team have been called by the Ireland senior national team: The team's final positions in the European championship: Ireland national schoolboy rugby union team The Irish Schoolboys rugby union team is the national team for secondary school students and under-18 school players in Ireland. There is an equivalent Ireland under 18 clubs side that play international rugby. The Irish Schoolboys side represents the nation against youths of other nations. They provide a starting point for Ireland qualified players that has led to players representing the National Team, Ireland A, Development, Provincial, Students, Irish U-20 and AIL teams. Currently in both the

neg: Limavady Grammar School with the 1st XV coached by Mr Hughes and Mr Nash. In the past, the school has had players who have represented the province at underage level such as Out Half Niall O'Connor represented both Ireland U19 and Ireland U20 in 2007 and has recently signed a contract extension with Ulster Rugby until 2011. The biggest honour goes to past pupil Derek McAleese who gained one cap for Ireland against France in 1992 and played many times for Ulster. Many students go on to play rugby for City of Derry RFC, who play in the Ulster Senior League and in

neg: Sport in Northern Ireland shinty players from Scotland in composite rules shinty-hurling. 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. Governing body Irish Rugby Football Union The Irish Rugby Football Union is 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. "See also" Irish rugby union system Irish provinces compete in the Pro14, against Welsh regions and Scotland super-districts. The

neg: History of the Ireland national rugby union team were due to play Scotland at Ravenhill in Belfast. The new Irish captain, Jim McCarthy, told IRFU president Sarsfield Hogan that the eleven Republic-based players would not stand for "God Save the Queen" alongside the Scottish team. It was agreed that an abbreviated anthem, known in Ulster as "the Salute", would be played that afternoon and that the Irish team would never play again at Ravenhill. Ireland went on to beat Scotland 6–0 but did not play in Northern Ireland again until 2007. On 18 January 1958, Ireland beat Australia 9–6 in Dublin, this was the first time a major

neg: Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup video footage is available on archives on www.rte.ie. The edition of Sports Club was broadcast 31 March 1977. The commentator is Fred Cogley. The Cup, and the Schools who play for it, have a history of producing fine rugby players, many of whom go on to play for Ireland. Players such as Denis Hickie, who captained his St. Mary's College team to win the cup in 1994, and Gordon D'Arcy have impressive senior cup records. The most international players produced have come from Blackrock College, with players such as Brian O'Driscoll, Victor Costello, Shane Byrne, Bob Casey, Leo Cullen and

neg: Rugby League Ireland season. The Conference Champions were: The same format of provincial competitions has run since 2010 and remains in place . The Irish rugby league team draws its players from across the Island of Ireland. At the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, the Ireland team entered the field of play at the beginning of their matches with the Four Provinces Flag of Ireland. The Ireland national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, represents Ireland in rugby league football. The team is organised by Rugby League Ireland. The representative team is dominated by players from the European Super League and sometimes

neg: Clogher Éire Óg GAC and has meant youth players from both clubs guaranteed football and also playing in a higher standard that they may have played in before. Once the players have finished their time at youth football, they then play for their original club at senior and reserve level. The agreement put in place at the minute means that players who may qualify to play both minor and senior football, can do so without any problems. Clogher Éire Óg GAC Clogher Éire Óg () is a Gaelic Athletic Association club. The club is based in Clogher in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The present

neg: FIFA eligibility rules an Irish passport. Evidently, the same is not applicable to the footballers of the Republic of Ireland, who do not have such a claim to a UK passport. This means that the [IFA] is exposed to a one-way situation, where players can choose to play for your association teams but the vice versa is not possible. This circumstance is rather unique and the FIFA Statutes and regulations do not provide for a solution". In 2007, the FIFA Legal Committee invited the FAI voluntarily to confine itself to selecting for its association teams Northern Irish players who meet one of the

neg: Noel Henderson playing rugby, he continued to play a role as an administrator for his club NIFC and for the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). He was elected president of the Irish Rugby Football Union for the 1990-91 season. Noel Henderson Noel Joseph Henderson (10 August 1928 – 27 August 1997) was a rugby union player from Northern Ireland, who played in the centre position. Henderson played club rugby with North of Ireland F.C., was capped forty times for Ireland, and was a member of the British and Irish Lions team that toured in 1950. Henderson was born

neg: Civil Service Rugby Club and others who served on various committees. The Clubs most distinguished son was perhaps Dudley Higgins, an accomplished full back, who gained caps during the 1948 Five Nations Championship, and in doing so became one of the elite band of players who have won a Grand Slam for Ireland. Dudley went on to become President of the Ulster Branch in 1960/61 and of the IRFU in 1976-77. Civil Service Rugby Club Civil Service NI Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Maynard Sinclair Pavilion of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The club was formed in the autumn of 1922

neg: Ireland at the Olympics Ireland are eligible to compete on the Great Britain team, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) director of rugby said in 2011 that "with the agreement of the [English, Scottish, and Welsh] unions" the "de facto position" was that Northern Ireland players must represent an IRFU team. In 2010 "The Daily Telegraph" opined that the IRFU would be entitled to refuse to release players under contract to it, but not to prohibit Northern Ireland players based outside Ireland; but that the issue needed to be handled "with extreme sensitivity". The OCI sees itself as representing the island rather than the

neg: Rugby union in Georgia many Georgian players are now based there. For example, in the qualifiers for the 2007 Rugby World Cup against Ireland, 18 of 25 players on the squad were based in France. Notable players include Georgi Shkinin, and captain Ilia Zedginidze who was considered something of a "Renaissance Man" in World Cup rugby as a talented international lawyer with the ability to speak several languages fluently. The Georgia Championship and Georgia Cup are the domestic rugby union club competitions in Georgia. Since most of the Georgian internationals play in France, its quality level does not match the popularity of rugby union

neg: England national rugby league team world, behind Australia and New Zealand. Wayne Bennett is the head coach, and Sean O'Loughlin the captain. In 1895, twenty-one clubs split with the Rugby Football Union, citing that they wanted to play professionally, and formed the Northern Rugby Football Union. The twenty-one clubs were all from Northern England and the players were largely working class. However it was not just English players who made the switch, Scottish and Welsh players also switched allegiance to the new code, wanting payments for playing. Switching heightened in the early 20th century with more Scottish and Welsh players leaving the RFU than ever

neg: Republic of Ireland national football team country along sectarian lines, whereby Nationalists will declare for the Republic of Ireland while Unionists continue to play for Northern Ireland. It has also been argued that it is actually the sectarian divisions, which already existed in Northern Irish football, that are a factor in a number of players switching to the Republic. Traditionally, those in Northern Ireland who identify as Irish, predominantly Catholics and nationalists, support the Republic of Ireland team. The senior men's management team includes: The following players were called up for the friendly against Northern Ireland on 15 November and the UEFA Nations League match against

neg: History of rugby union in Australia time England's new "Northern Union game" arrived in Australia it was fundamentally different from rugby union, with lineouts, rucks and two players from each team having already been removed, and the play-the-ball introduced. In 1907, the schism that more than a decade earlier, had torn the Northern Rugby Football Union from the Rugby Football Union, arrived on Australia's doorstep. Rugby union's amateur high ideals, irked the working class rugby players who sought compensation for time away from work. A meeting took place at Bateman's Crystal Hotel in Sydney on 8 August 1907, where a resolution was made to form the

neg: Ireland at the Olympics compete for Britain. In October 2004, Lord McIntosh of Haringey told the House of Lords: By contrast, OCI officers Pat Hickey and Dermot Sherlock told an Oireachtas committee in 2008: Hickey also said: In 2012, Stephen Martin, who has been an executive at both the OCI and the BOA, said "Team GB is a brand name. Just like Team Ireland. The British and Irish Olympic committees are seen by the International Olympic Committees as having joint rights over Northern Ireland." In 2009, rugby sevens was added to the Olympic programme starting in 2016. While World Rugby states players from Northern

neg: Rugby Players Ireland Year and the Unsung Hero as well as the Hall of Fame. The Rugby Players Ireland Hall of Fame includes the following members: Rugby Players Ireland administers the injured players fund which provides support to players who are forced to retire from rugby due to illness or injury. The fund is reliant on individual and corporate donations. The Rugby Players Ireland annual awards dinner is also a major part of the its fundraising activity. Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Rugby Players Ireland made a donation of €20,000 from the injured players fund to assist with relief efforts through aid agency

neg: Ireland at the Olympics team in non-Olympic competitions is selected on an all-island basis. Until 1992 the IHU was not invited to the Olympic hockey tournament, while Northern Irish hockey players like Stephen Martin played on the British Olympic men's team. In 1992, invitation was replaced by an Olympic qualifying tournament, which the IHU/IHA has entered, despite some opposition from Northern Irish members. Northern Irish players can play for Ireland or Britain, and can switch affiliation subject to International Hockey Federation clearance. The Irish Ladies Hockey Union has entered the Olympics since 1984, and in 1980 suspended Northern Irish players who elected to play

neg: MU Barnhall RFC Longford in the final at Malahide. The team draws its players mostly from the Tag-rugby leagues which are played every Summer in Parsonstown and from NUI Maynooth whose rugby programme has close links with Barnhall RFC. In 2010 the Barnhall Women won the Leinster Div 3 to become Leinster champions. Over the years Barnhall has produced players who have gone on to play representative rugby for Leinster, Ireland and even abroad. Trevor Brennan began his career in Parsonstown before going on to play for Bective Rangers in the AIL and then captaining St Mary's College RFC to AIL division 1

neg: All-Ireland all-Ireland basis, for example American football, basketball, boxing, cricket, curling, Gaelic games, hockey, golf, lawn bowls, rugby league and rugby union, in which case the international team is usually referred to simply as "Ireland". Others are organised primarily on an all-Ireland basis, but with both "Ireland" and "Great Britain" international teams, in which case players from Northern Ireland may opt for either – these include tennis, swimming, athletics and any events at the Olympics. Some others have separate Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland organisations and teams, including notably football and snooker. Similarly, the term may be used in reference

neg: David Pollock (rugby union) a career in medicine. David Pollock (rugby union) David Pollock (born 19 March 1987 in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland) is a retired rugby union player. He played for Ulster Rugby in the Celtic League and represented Dungannon RFC who play in the AIB League. Pollock's position of choice was as an Open Side Flanker. Pollock captained Ireland Under-20s to a Six Nations grandslam in 2007. He represented Ireland A against England Saxons on 1 February 2008 and has also represented them in the Churchill Cup. Pollock was forced to retire from rugby at 23 due to a hip injury.

neg: David Pollock (rugby union) David Pollock (rugby union) David Pollock (born 19 March 1987 in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland) is a retired rugby union player. He played for Ulster Rugby in the Celtic League and represented Dungannon RFC who play in the AIB League. Pollock's position of choice was as an Open Side Flanker. Pollock captained Ireland Under-20s to a Six Nations grandslam in 2007. He represented Ireland A against England Saxons on 1 February 2008 and has also represented them in the Churchill Cup. Pollock was forced to retire from rugby at 23 due to a hip injury. He has since pursued

neg: Irish Rugby Football Union 95,000 rugby players in total in Ireland. There are 56 clubs affiliated to the Ulster Branch; 71 to the Leinster Branch; 59 to the Munster Branch and 23 to the Connacht Branch. In addition, there are 246 schools playing rugby: Ulster (107), Leinster (75), Munster (41) and Connacht (23). The IRFU also has an Exiles branch tasked with developing "Ireland-qualified" players (i.e., eligible to play internationally for Ireland through ancestry) living in England, Scotland and Wales. Volunteers provide coaching, administration and development under the supervision of a paid development manager. Irish Rugby Football Union The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)

neg: Rugby league in the United Kingdom by the separate national teams. The Other Nationalities rugby league team used to consist of Scottish, Welsh and Irish players. Rugby league in the United Kingdom "Rugby league" is a popular sport in Northern England and south Wales, and to a lesser extent in Scotland, Ireland, and other parts of England and Wales. It is organised "separately" in each of these countries, and also on an all-Ireland basis, with Northern Ireland and the independent Republic of Ireland playing together. Rugby league in the British Isles is discussed in the following articles, corresponding to the separate organisations governing the sport: There

neg: Rugby league in the United Kingdom Rugby league in the United Kingdom "Rugby league" is a popular sport in Northern England and south Wales, and to a lesser extent in Scotland, Ireland, and other parts of England and Wales. It is organised "separately" in each of these countries, and also on an all-Ireland basis, with Northern Ireland and the independent Republic of Ireland playing together. Rugby league in the British Isles is discussed in the following articles, corresponding to the separate organisations governing the sport: There is also a Great Britain national rugby league team, which has consisted mostly of English players, and is now superseded

neg: Rugby league in Ireland Rugby league in Ireland Rugby league is a team sport played in Ireland on an all-Ireland basis. In May 1934 Wigan beat Warrington 32-19 in an exhibition match in Dublin. Twenty years later, in May 1954, Warrington were again defeated by Halifax in both Belfast (34-15) and Dublin (23-11). Several Irish rugby union players have crossed the Irish Sea to play in British Championship, most notably Irish forwards Robin Thompson, in the 1950s, and Ken Goodall a decade later. The first club side to actually play in Ireland, Dublin Blues, were not formed until 1989. They consisted mostly of rugby

neg: Comparison of Canadian football and rugby union University. Rugby is also an ancestor of Canadian football, currently its main competitor. A "running game", resembling rugby, was taken up by the Montreal Football Club in Canada in 1868. Back in England, a schism developed between those who favoured strict amateurism and those who felt that players should be compensated for time taken off work to play rugby. In 1895, this resulted in the formation of a break-away governing body, the Northern Union. The Northern Union began to make changes to the laws of rugby in 1906, which resulted in the sport of rugby league. The Rugby Football Union's

neg: Rugby league in the United States preparatory schools in the Northeastern United States. The sport of American football evolved from these intercollegiate games. Meanwhile, in Huddersfield, England a schism developed in rugby football between those who favored strict amateurism and those who felt that players should be compensated for time taken off work to play rugby. Many Northern English industrial towns tended to be poorer, the working class players often working in industries that had long hours of manual labour for which they would not get paid for time off. Amateur status for players in these towns was therefore not just financially difficult, but also physically

neg: History of rugby union improvements led to a national team capable of competing with the national teams of the British Isles, proven by a famous victory against Ireland in 1995. Lobbying was successful to have Italy included in the century-old tournament for the top European rugby nations which became the Six Nations championship in 2000. A key benefit that professionalism brought to rugby union as a whole was the elimination of the constant defection of union players who were attracted to the money of rugby league. The rugby union authorities of the time also hoped that as players could now play in either code,

neg: Ireland national rugby union team Republic-based players protested "God Save the Queen", and an abbreviated anthem known as "the Salute" was instead played. Ireland beat Scotland 6–0, and did not play in Northern Ireland again until 2007. In 1958, Ireland beat Australia 9–6 in Dublin, the first time a major touring team had been defeated. Ireland managed just three victories in the Five Nations Championship during the early 1960s: against England in 1961, Wales in 1963 and England again in 1964. 1965 saw an improvement as Ireland beat England and Scotland. On 10 April 1965 at Lansdowne Road Ireland recorded their first ever win over

neg: Harry McDaniel Harry McDaniel Harry McDaniel (? - 2 December 1932) was a Welsh rugby union player who is most notable for representing the Ireland national team when the side turned up short of players for their encounter with Wales during the 1884 Home Nations Championship. McDaniel first came to note as a rugby player when he captained second-tier Welsh side Maindee RFC. Described as 'a good honest forward' he was noticed by first class club Newport and joined them during the 1880/81 season. Although never selected for Wales, McDaniel managed to play international rugby for Ireland, when the team arrived in

neg: Sport in Northern Ireland Championship. In recent years, the most successful football teams from Northern Ireland have been Tyrone GAA and Armagh GAA. Hurling teams from Northern Ireland have found it difficult to make an impact against the top counties from the Republic, with Antrim GAA the most successful. County players may be selected for the Ulster provincial side to play in the Railway Cup. At international level, footballers can play for the Ireland International Rules football team against the best Australian Rules football players from Australia. Hurlers playing in the lower divisions of the All-Ireland Championship are eligible to play against the best

neg: Rugby union positions is putting the ball in, the tighthead attempts to disrupt the opposing hooker or loosehead, making it difficult for them to win the ball. Props in the International Rugby Hall of Fame include: Jason Leonard (England and Lions), Syd Millar (Ireland and Lions) and Wilson Whineray (New Zealand). Players who have the ability to play a number of positions in a team are called utility players. Utility players can be seen as "Jack of all trades" and they generally occupy the reserve position in a team. For this reason, many try to avoid being labelled as utilities. Players in the

neg: Aberdare RLFC taking payments, they and their club could be permanently suspended. The problem facing Welsh rugby was the rise of the professional Northern Union (later rugby league) in the North of England, where several clubs had split away from the International Rugby Board and formed their own league where players were paid to play. Many rugby union clubs found their star players poached from them by the new Northern League. To prevent losing their star players, many rugby union clubs secretly paid their players a small amount of money for each match played. The first challenge of the professional era to

neg: 1971–72 British Home Championship 1971–72 British Home Championship The 1971–72 British Home Championship was the first such Home Nations football tournament (although not the last), to suffer during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, when death threats from the Provisional Irish Republican Army were sent to the Scottish Football Association and Scottish players who were scheduled to play at Windsor Park. The surge in anti-British feeling which prompted these threats followed Bloody Sunday in January, and also resulted in the cancellation of the rugby union 1972 Five Nations Championship. As a result, Northern Ireland's home fixture was rescheduled to Hampden Park, effectively granting the Scottish

neg: Bingo (United Kingdom) board, then the winnings are automatically deposited into their 'bingo account'. In Northern Ireland bingo clubs, where the laws governing bingo games are different from in Great Britain, it is common when playing mechanised cash bingo for the caller to announce that a position or 'card' has won, and ending the game without the participation of the person playing. In other words, clubs in Northern Ireland do not require players to press a claim button. This enables the customer to play more positions in hope of a better chance of winning. In order to encourage more people to play, and

neg: Alex Wootton Alex Wootton Alex Wootton (born 7 July 1994) is an Irish rugby union player for Munster in the Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup. He plays primarily as a wing, but can also play as a fullback, and represents Garryowen in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League. Wootton was born in Prestbury, England, though he qualifies for Ireland through his father, who is from County Down, Northern Ireland. He began playing rugby aged 7 and moved to Sedbergh School aged 12. Wootton joined the Northampton Saints academy ahead of the 2012–13 season but, by the summer of 2013, he had

neg: Cian Healy of DJ Church. At the music festivals Oxegen 2010 and Oxegen 2011, he performed in the Electric Ballroom along with his band partner DJ Gordo. Healy also paints. He has done abstract portraits of fellow rugby players. Cian Healy Cian Healy (born 7 October 1987) is an Irish rugby union rugby player. He plays for Leinster and for the Ireland national team. He is registered to Clontarf who play in All-Ireland League. He is also a DJ, calling himself DJ Church, performing at both Oxegen 2010 and Oxegen 2011 in the Electric Ballroom with his band partner DJ Gordo. He

neg: Rugby Players Ireland Concern. Rugby Players Ireland The Rugby Players Ireland is the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland. Founded in October 2001, its aims are to promote and protect the welfare of professional rugby players in Ireland. The Chief Executive Officer is Omar Hassanein and Rob Kearney is its current chairman. Its headquarters are in Clonskeagh in Dublin. The associations objectives are:- Rugby Players Ireland provides a Player Services Advisor. This provides player guidance on all aspects of their career, including education, personal development to prepare them for the transition to life after professional rugby. The association acts as a

neg: Rugby Players Ireland Rugby Players Ireland The Rugby Players Ireland is the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland. Founded in October 2001, its aims are to promote and protect the welfare of professional rugby players in Ireland. The Chief Executive Officer is Omar Hassanein and Rob Kearney is its current chairman. Its headquarters are in Clonskeagh in Dublin. The associations objectives are:- Rugby Players Ireland provides a Player Services Advisor. This provides player guidance on all aspects of their career, including education, personal development to prepare them for the transition to life after professional rugby. The association acts as a negotiator

neg: Aaron Sexton Aaron Sexton Aaron Sexton is a rugby player and sprinter from Northern Ireland. He has represented Ireland Schools and Ulster under 20s in rugby and is the Northern Ireland junior record holder for the 200 metres. Aged 17 he was selected to play as a reserve in a pre-season friendly for Ulster Rugby against Gloucester Rugby. He has been tipped as a future star by Ulster player John Cooney. He was recorded as accelerating to a speed of 37.8 km/h during a match for Ulster A team in which he scored 2 tries. This speed is the fastest the club

neg: 2007 All Golds Tour until he too was ruled out after suffering a season-ending knee injury. Trent Barrett was also linked with the stand-off role in the side. The NZRL expressed interest in including recently retired New Zealand rugby league stars Nigel Vagana, Ruben Wiki, and Stacey Jones in test matches. All three came out of international retirement to play in the match against the Northern Union. Several current and former All Blacks (New Zealand rugby union players) were also considered for the match against the Northern Union. Players who grew up playing rugby league such as Carlos Spencer, Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu

neg: Rugby Players Ireland the first full time Chief Executive Officer. On 12 April 2017, the organization changed its name from the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) to Rugby Players Ireland. Rugby Players Ireland has run the annunal Rugby Players Ireland Awards dinner from 2002 which gives recognition to rugby players in a number of categories. The awards dinner is run to support the injured players fund. The most prestigious award is the Players' Player of the Year award which is voted for by playing members of Rugby Players Ireland. Other awards include the Young Player of the Year award, Try of the

neg: Rugby union in Ireland The changing climate in Northern Ireland politics has altered this perceived tradition with the introduction of rugby into an increasing number of Roman Catholic grammar and secondary schools which were previously exclusively associated with Gaelic games. It is true to say overall that currently the vast majority of players representing the professional teams of all of the provinces of Ireland come from middle-class backgrounds. The conversion of rugby from amateurism to professionalism led to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) using the provincial structure to create four professional teams, with the Irish players on these teams on central contracts to

neg: Rugby League Conference against national amateur sides from Wales, Scotland (players drawn from RLC teams) and Ireland (players from Rugby League Ireland). There were many changes in format of the Rugby League Conference as it expanded over time, here are the divisions that existed when the league was lasted competed for in 2011. In 2011 the following teams will play in the Women's Rugby League Conference: Until 2004, the Harry Jepson trophy was competed for by all the Conference sides. Between 2005 and 2011, it was competed for by the RLC Premier divisions. From 2012 onwards, it has been contested by the non-heartlands

neg: Shane Duffy in little over ten weeks after his injury and has since appeared for Republic of Ireland under-19 and under-21 squads. He was called up for the U21 friendly versus Portugal in March 2011. Players such as Duffy, James McClean, Daniel Kearns, Darron Gibson and Marc Wilson had represented Northern Ireland at youth level but later opted to play for Republic of Ireland. The IFA disputed the players' right to do so under FIFA rules and felt the current rules were a "clear disadvantage over all other 206 Associations". The Irish Football Association took a case to the Court of Arbitration

neg: Garda RFC Garda RFC Garda RFC is the rugby team with players drawn mostly from local areas of Westmanstown(Lucan, Leixlip, Dunboyne, Clonsilla, Castleknock, Blanchardstown) and members of Garda Síochána, the national police force of Ireland. They currently play in Leinster League Division 2B of the Leinster League. The club was founded in February 1965 by rugby enthusiasts at the Garda Station in Pearse Street. One of their first coaches was the former Ireland and British Lions prop Gordon Wood, who was also the father of rugby icon Keith Wood. His memory is honoured by the Gordon Wood Trophy, competed for annually by

neg: Other Nationalities rugby league team Other Nationalities rugby league team The Other Nationalities rugby league team regularly played international, and also county, rugby league football teams in Europe from 1904 to 1975. The team, created in 1904 to play England in the first ever rugby league international match, was at first made up of Welsh and Scottish players. However, as rugby league in England grew, and more players from other countries were brought over to England to play in the domestic competitions, Other Nationalities were later represented by players from Australia, Fiji, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa. The Other Nationalities team wore green shirts.

neg: St. Louis Bombers Rugby Football Club Missouri Rugby Union yearbook. "We would rather teach someone who likes to hit how to play rugby, than teach someone who likes to play rugby how to hit". The Bombers attracted many talented athletes and rugby players during the 1970s and 1980s, but finished as runner-up to the powerful and now defunct St. Louis Falcon's RFC for most of the two decades. Though the Bombers won several tournament titles during this period, the biggest matches were always against the Falcons. There was never a dull moment when the Bombers and Falcons stepped on the pitch to do battle. The tremendous

neg: All-Ireland football team All-Ireland football team An All-Ireland Football Team is a proposed association football team for the whole island of Ireland - that is to say a team where players are selected from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In 1921 the Football Association of Ireland (which administers football for the Republic of Ireland) split from the Irish Football Association which now administers football in Northern Ireland. Those who went on the found the FAI believed that there was a Northern Ireland bias, they also did not like being told what to do by those in Belfast, which is where

neg: Northern Football Club was Feidlim McLoughlin, who was selected to play for Ireland in 1977. Though many players have played for Northern who have later become international players and, including Jonathan Webb, Brian Keen, David Rees and Colin White for England, Scott Hastings and Jim Pollock for Scotland, Rory Best for Ireland and Hennie le Roux for South Africa. A past player of note is John Elders, who also coached the Senior XV also coached England in the 1970s. Elders was the first coach to take an England side to South Africa and win a test match. Northern's local rivals are Gosforth RFC.

neg: Queen's University RFC following Queen's players have represented Ireland at full international level. The following Queen's players have also represented the British and Irish Lions. † Won by 2nd XV † Won by Freshers Queen's University RFC Queen's University Belfast Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of Queen's University Belfast, currently playing in Division 2A of the All-Ireland League. Founded in 1869, it is the most successful and oldest continuous rugby union club in Northern Ireland. They originally played as "Queen's College, Belfast" and have won the Ulster Senior Cup a record 23 times. In 1993 when the AIB League was

neg: Exiles rugby league team an Australian or New Zealand coach). The Other Nationalities rugby league team regularly played international, and also county, rugby league football teams in Europe from 1904 to 1975. The team, created in 1904 to play England in the first ever rugby league international match, was at first made up of Welsh and Scottish players. However, as rugby league in England grew, and more players from other countries were brought over to England to play in the domestic competitions, Other Nationalities were later represented by players from Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Due to the success of the All

neg: Syd Millar Syd Millar John Sydney "Syd" Millar (born 23 May 1934) was a rugby union prop from Northern Ireland who played international rugby for Ireland and the British Lions. After retiring from playing rugby he became a rugby coach and later a rugby administrator. He became chairman of the Irish Rugby Union in 1995, and from 2003 until 2007 was the chairman of the International Rugby Board. Syd Millar was born in Ballymena in Northern Ireland. He played for Ballymena RFC and represented Ireland in the pack, winning 37 caps as a prop. In addition, he played nine times for the

neg: Sport in Northern Ireland four Irish provinces also compete in the Heineken Cup. Competitions have taken place since the late 19th century 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. 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

neg: Comparison of rugby league and rugby union league players such as Jason Robinson, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Henry Paul and Iestyn Harris, took up rugby union contracts. Sailor, Rogers, Tuqiri, Paul and Harris subsequently switched back to rugby league. Players who achieve play international rugby in both codes are known as dual-code internationals. In 1909, when the new "Northern Union" code was still in its infancy, a match between the Kangaroos and the Wallabies was played before a crowd of around 20,000, with the rugby league side winning, 29–26. With the wartime Emergency League suspended, Leeds Rugby League reverted to rugby union during World War

neg: North of Ireland F.C. also represented the British and Irish Lions. The following NIFC players also represented Ireland at cricket. † Won by 2nd XV North of Ireland F.C. North of Ireland Football Club is a former Irish rugby union club that was based in Belfast, Ireland. It was the first rugby club formed in what is now Northern Ireland and only two other clubs - Dublin University and Wanderers - were formed earlier anywhere else in all Ireland. It was founded in 1868 by members of North of Ireland Cricket Club. NIFC also played in the first recorded rugby game in Ulster when

neg: Nevin Spence Nevin Spence Nevin Spence (26 April 199015 September 2012) was a Northern Ireland-born Irish rugby union player for Ulster in the Pro12. He played as a Centre, but could also play Wing. He was educated firstly at Dromore High School, where he was introduced to rugby, and then at Wallace High School. He played his club rugby with Ballynahinch. He was also a capable footballer, playing for the Northern Ireland U-16's. Nevin rose to prominence at Ballynahinch during the hugely successful 2009/10 season. The club won the Ulster Senior League, Cup, AIL Division 2 and All-Ireland Cup all in a

neg: Northern Ireland national Junior football team Western Region once having won a play-off. In addition Northern Ireland Juniors regularly compete in the International Quadrangular Tournament along with Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man. Northern Ireland have won this competition three times, in 1995, 1996 and 2017. The following players were selected for the Junior International Quadrangular Tournament held in Glasgow, Scotland from 11–14 October 2017. Since 2007 Northern Ireland has been represented by the winner of a play-off between the Eastern Region and Western Region. A Mid Ulster side represented Northern Ireland Northern Ireland national Junior football team The Northern Ireland Junior

neg: United States national rugby union team international test win streak in team history (10). The streak would come to an end in a defeat to Ireland in Dublin. The following table shows the results of the U.S. national team in official test matches during the previous 24 months, as well as upcoming fixtures. Notes: The following squad was announced for the 2018 November tests. Seven players were added after the initial announcement. Olive Kilifi, who was in the original squad announcement, was replaced due to injury. The Eagles do not have an official home stadium. The Eagles used to play several of their home games at

neg: Aaron Sexton has ever recorded for an Ulster player in any match. Ireland international player Neil Best writing about his exceptional speed compared him to the South African international Bryan Habana saying that he was set to become Haban's "true heir". Sexton is 2017 200 metres Commonwealth Youth Games champion. Aaron Sexton Aaron Sexton is a rugby player and sprinter from Northern Ireland. He has represented Ireland Schools and Ulster under 20s in rugby and is the Northern Ireland junior record holder for the 200 metres. Aged 17 he was selected to play as a reserve in a pre-season friendly for Ulster

neg: Ireland national rugby union team 2000, it was known as Irish Permanent before reverting to Permanent TSB before the sponsorship ended in summer 2006. The Irish rugby union team is one of many teams that draws its players from across the Island of Ireland and therefore can contain players from both Ireland ("The Republic") and Northern Ireland. In the past this has led to issues surrounding certain flag and anthem usage. When Irish internationals were played alternately in Belfast and Dublin, the British national anthem "God Save the Queen" was played before matches in Belfast and the national anthem of Ireland "Amhrán na bhFiann" was

neg: Bert Winfield Bert Winfield Herbert Benjamin Winfield (1878 - 21 September 1919) was an English rugby union player who played international rugby for Wales. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks and captained Wales against Ireland in 1908. He played club rugby for Cardiff. Winfield is not one of the most well known of the players from the first Welsh Golden Era, which was probably due to his solid but unspectacular style of play. He was a strong kicker of the ball and in the fifteen matches he played for his country he

neg: 2011 Rugby World Cup squads a medical certificate where appropriate. Once signed off, the replacement is not allowed to play for 48 hours and the replacement is permanent. Players marked (c) were named as captain for their national squad. Number of caps and players' ages are indicated as of 9 September 2011 – the tournament's opening day. The tournament was played during the Super Rugby off season. Players who were released or changed clubs are out-of-contract with their clubs and finished with their 2011 clubs, and in-contract with their national unions and/or future clubs for the 2012 (2011–12 in the Northern Hemisphere) season. Players were

neg: Ireland men's national rugby league team grandparent rule. The Irish team improved its standards but this development gave less opportunity for Irish-based players to get a chance to play. However, Irish-based players were included in the Irish squad for the triangular tournaments in 1998 against France and Scotland and 1999 against Scotland and Wales. Their success was enough to earn a place in the 2000 World Cup. Finishing top of their group, the Irish eventually lost 26–16 to England in the quarter-finals, but the performance set the scene for future developments in Ireland. Ireland were drawn against Lebanon and Russia in Europe's 2008 Rugby League World

neg: History of rugby union their representatives along with Lancashire's, are credited with formalising the RFU's first amateur rules in 1886. Despite popular belief, these Northern bodies were strong advocates of amateurism, leading numerous crusades against veiled professionalism. However, conflict arose over the controversy regarding broken time, the issue of whether players should receive compensation for taking time off work to play. The northern clubs were heavily working class, and thus, a large pool of players had to miss matches due to working commitments, or forego pay to play rugby. In 1892, charges of professionalism were laid against rugby football clubs in Bradford and Leeds,

neg: Ireland at the Rugby World Cup matches – Quarter-final Pool C matches – Quarter finals – Pool 5 matches – Quarter-final play off Group A matches – Pool D matches – Ireland qualified for the 2011 RWC automatically. Quarter-finals Quarter-finals The Rugby World Cup is held every four years, and tends to alternate between the northern and southern hemispheres. Every northern hemisphere tournament so far has been held in Europe, and in general Ireland usually hosts some games when it is held there. The 1991 Rugby World Cup final was played in England, while pool and finals games were played all over European nations. Pool A,

neg: 1909–10 Northern Rugby Football Union season 1909–10 Northern Rugby Football Union season The 1909–10 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the 15th season of rugby league football. Aberdare, Barry and Mid-Rhondda had dropped out, leaving 28 teams. Oldham won their second Championship this season. After finishing top of the regular season table, they went on to beat Wigan 13-7 in the play-off final. The Challenge Cup Winners were Leeds who defeated Hull F.C. 26-12 in replay after a 7-7 draw. At the close of the season, the Northern Union's leading players were selected to go on the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New

neg: Merthyr Tydfil RLFC century, rugby union was the sport of choice for most villages and towns in Wales. The sport was strictly amateur, and players were not expected to receive any monies for taking part in the sport. If players were discovered taking payments, they and their club could be permanently suspended. The problem facing Welsh rugby was the rise of the professional Northern Union (later rugby league) in the North of England, where several clubs had split away from the International Rugby Board and formed their own league where players were paid to play. Many rugby union clubs found their star players

neg: Cashel RFC standard of the whole club. As of the 2014/2015 season Cashel play in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 2A. Cashel RFC Cashel Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland, playing in Division 2A of the All-Ireland League. Cashel RFC has a Minis rugby section which caters for kids from U7s up to U12s, a juvenile section for U14s, U16s and U18 and halfs, we have Ladies Rugby which includes Girls Tag, U18s and our Senior Ladies Team and finally we have 3 Senior teams 3rds 2nds and our 1st team. New players

neg: Alan Kernaghan left the club on 2 September 2005. Brought up in Bangor, Northern Ireland, he played for Northern Ireland Schoolboys six times. However, as the Irish Football Association policy at the time did not select players who were not or whose parents were not born in Northern Ireland, he wasn't selected for the senior team. Due to his grandmother being an Irish citizen he was entitled to Irish citizenship, and he was selected by Jack Charlton to play for the Republic of Ireland. Kernaghan earned 22 caps, scored one goal and was selected for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He left

neg: Finlay Bealham Furlong in the second. Finlay Bealham Finlay Bealham (born 9 October 1991) is an Australian-born Irish rugby union player. He primarily plays as a prop, and can play at both tighthead and loosehead. Bealham represents at international level, qualifying to play for them through his grandmother from Enniskillen in Northern Ireland. Bealham currently plays his club rugby for Irish provincial team Connacht Rugby in the Pro14 league. Through his grandmother, Bealham is related to Northern Irish heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris. Bealham grew up in Canberra. He attended St Edmund's College in the city. He played rugby league at a young

neg: Finlay Bealham Finlay Bealham Finlay Bealham (born 9 October 1991) is an Australian-born Irish rugby union player. He primarily plays as a prop, and can play at both tighthead and loosehead. Bealham represents at international level, qualifying to play for them through his grandmother from Enniskillen in Northern Ireland. Bealham currently plays his club rugby for Irish provincial team Connacht Rugby in the Pro14 league. Through his grandmother, Bealham is related to Northern Irish heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris. Bealham grew up in Canberra. He attended St Edmund's College in the city. He played rugby league at a young age before concentrating solely

neg: All-Ireland League (rugby union) introduction of professionalism in rugby union, the IRFU increased the importance of the provinces, which from 2002 participated in the Celtic League (now the Pro14) as full-time teams rather than ad-hoc selections of club players. Therefore, the best Irish players no longer play in the AIL. In 2004 the IRFU proposed scrapping the All-Ireland League and reintroducing a provincial league system in 2005-06 which would act as qualifiers for a curtailed three division AIL structure in the second half of the season, but this model did not receive the support of clubs or rugby pundits. In 2007 the IRFU agreed

neg: Pacific Islanders rugby union team concerned with qualifying for the next World Cup the Islanders did not tour again until 2006. Scheduled matches against Italy and New Zealand in June 2006 did not take place, but they undertook a Northern Hemisphere tour in late 2006 with matches against Scotland, Wales and Ireland. PIRA had ruled in July 2006 that the team selected for that year's tour to Great Britain and Ireland would consist only of players who had previously played for Fiji, Manu Samoa or Tonga. This was intended to ensure that the Pacific Islanders team serves to develop players for the island nations only.

neg: Glyn Meredith Glyn Meredith Glyn Meredith is a Welsh cricketer, and rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played representative cricket for Glamorgan County Cricket Club, and at club level for Newbridge Cricket Club and Wakefield Cricket Club at College Grove, club level rugby union (RU) for Abertillery RFC and Newbridge RFC, and club level rugby league (RL) for Wakefield Trinity, as a , i.e. number 6. Four players from Newbridge RFC left to play rugby league for the 1949–50 Northern Rugby Football League season, they were; Tommy Harris to Hull FC, Bill Hopkins

neg: Max McFarland Max McFarland Max McFarland (born 13 July 1993) is a Scotland 7s international rugby union player who currently plays as a wing for the Glasgow Warriors team. McFarland was born in Ireland, and qualifies to play for Scotland through his Glaswegian grandfather. McFarland attended Clongowes Wood College, a secondary boarding school known for producing good rugby players. Before turning professional McFarland played for the Edinburgh teams Boroughmuir RFC and Watsonians RFC. McFarland was in the Leinster Rugby Academy squad, before moving to Edinburgh Rugby in 2014. He played for the squad for the start of season 2016-17. In 2017-18 McFarland

neg: Granville James Granville James Granville James (birth unknown) is a Welsh former rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Newbridge RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Hunslet, as a , i.e. number 13, during the era of contested scrums. Four players from Newbridge RFC left to play rugby league for the 1949–50 Northern Rugby Football League season, they were; Tommy Harris to Hull FC, Bill Hopkins to Hull FC, Granville James to Hunslet and Glyn Meredith

neg: Irish Exiles (rugby union team) and the Ireland women's national rugby sevens team. In addition to producing nearly thirty Ireland men's internationals, the Exiles programme has also produced three British and Irish Lions - Simon Easterby, Rob Henderson and Nick Popplewell. A number of Irish Exiles players have "slipped through the net" and have subsequently gone on to play for the England national rugby union team. These include Kieran Brookes, Paul Doran-Jones and Shane Geraghty. Recent graduates of the programme include Sam Arnold and Kieran Marmion. The Irish Exiles also field a women's rugby union team. A number of prominent members of the Ireland women's