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Ireland National Rugby Union TeamThe Ireland national rugby union team is Ireland's international rugby union team. It is unusual in international rugby in that it represents both political entities on the island of Ireland: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Today the team plays home games at Lansdowne Road in Dublin but in the past they have played home games in Belfast in Northern Ireland. For approximately five years there was a second union, the Northern Football Union of Ireland, but in 1879 the two unions resolved their differences and merged. Overview Although the Irish Football Union (renamed Irish Rugby Football Union after unification with the North of Ireland Union) was not formed until 1874, club rugby had been played in the country for many years before that. Trinity College, Dublin claims to be one of the oldest clubs in Ireland, having been formed in 1854. Ireland played their first test match against England at the Oval in 1875, but it was not until 1881 that they first won a test, against Scotland at Ormeau in Belfast. The national anthem of the Republic of Ireland, Amhrn na bhFiann, is played only for games played in the Republic; Ireland's Call is always used either alongside or instead of Amhrn na bhFiann. Instead of the Irish tricolour, the official flag of the Republic, a quartered flag with symbols representing the four provinces of Ireland is flown. At some matches, the standard of the island's rugby governing body, the Irish Rugby Football Union, is displayed on the field during pre-match ceremonies. At international level Ireland have always been inconsistent. Grand Slam winners only once – in 1948 – they have won the Triple Crown seven times, most recently in 2004. However, they have finished bottom of the Championship table on thirty occasions. They have also failed to get past the quarterfinals at any of the five World Cups. Despite this they have some magnificent individual players with Malcolm O'Kelly, Mike Gibson, Willie John McBride and Fergus Slattery all winning over sixty International caps, Keith Wood winning the inaugural IRB World Player of the Year Award in 2001, and Brian O'Driscoll being arguably the top centre in the world today. Ireland play in the Six Nations Championship, and in recent years have been the strongest of the Celtic nations. They were the first team to beat England following their World Cup win. In the 2005 Six Nations, Ireland was a slight favourite entering the competition, and won its first three matches, including a 19-13 home defeat of England. However, Ireland's dreams of their first Grand Slam since 1948 were shattered with a 26-19 home loss to France. In the final round, Wales defeated Ireland 32-20 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to win the Grand Slam. Famous players See also External links
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