Rubgy is a game that was split into two codes in 1895. Rugby league broke away from traditional rubgy union to allow players to be professional. Irish rugby history has been dominated by rugby union, with the first club forming in 1854. The first official rugby league club in Ireland didn't form until 1989. Ireland have been the taking part in the major European tournament, the six nations, since it started in 1883.
The First Rugby Club
Rugby was formed as a breakaway sport from the soccer at Rugby school in 1848, when the first official rules were produced. The first rugby club in Ireland was formed by Dublin University in 1854. Rugby was brought to Ireland by students who, according to the Irish Rugby Football Union, "learnt the game while at English Public Schools." Trevor West, in 'The Bold Collegians', wrote "the 1854 foundation date gives Trinity [College] a substantial claim to be the oldest rugby club in continuous existence."
The Six Nations Championship
Ireland was one the founding members of the Home International Championship in 1883, along with England, Scotland and Wales. The competition has now evolved into a championship including France -- who joined in 1910 -- and Italy, who at the turn of the twenty-first century joined to create the Six Nations Championship. The grand slam, awarded to the country who win all five matches against the other nations, has been won by Ireland twice. One of those grand slam victories happened in 2009, when a side captained by Brian O'Driscoll beat Wales 17-15 to secure the title. It was the first time in 61 years that the Irish rugby team had won the grand slam, ending a drought that stretched back to the only other grand slam victory in 1948.
The Rugby World Cup
The inaugural Rugby World Cup took place in 1987, hosted by Australia, bringing together diverse countries for the first competitive tournament in the history of the game. Ireland won the first two group games versus Tonga and Canada, only to lose 33-15 against the host nation in the quarter-final. The next World Cup took place in 1991, hosted by Britain, Ireland and France. Leading Australia by 6 points with two minutes to go, Ireland looked like they were going to cause a huge upset in another quarter-final encounter. However, Australia scored a late try to break Irish hearts and secure a one point victory 19-18. Ireland lost a third consecutive quarter-final against France in 1995, and failed to reach the same stage four years later, losing to Argentina in the play-off stage. In 2003, Ireland lost another quarter-final against France. Failure to progress from the group stage in 2007, the Irish team have yet to make the semi-finals -- and after the grand slam success in 2009 -- should be aiming for better results in the upcoming 2011 tournament to be played in New Zealand.
Rugby League in Ireland
The first rugby league club in Ireland was formed in 1989 when the Dublin Blues were created by Brian Corrigan. The team, according to Rugby League Ireland "consisted mostly of rugby union players who wanted to stay fit over the summer." Ireland played their first competitive international in 1995, when they took on the USA in Washington, winning the match 24-22. The national team managed to qualify for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, losing to a very strong and experienced England side in the quarter-finals 26-16.
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