Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is the body managing rugby football in Ireland. The IRFU has grounds at Lansdowne Road, where Irish rugby international matches are played.
The Irish Football Union and a rival North of Ireland Football Union were formed in 1874. The IRFU was formed in 1879 as an amalgamation of the two different organisations.
Following the political break up of Ireland into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the IRFU remained as one Union representing all of Ireland. This lead to the unique situation among international rugby teams, where the Irish representative teams are drawn from players from two separate political territories Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom (which Northern Ireland is part of).
See also
