Rugby union in Ireland
Rugby union is a popular sport in Ireland.
The Irish Rugby Football Union ( IRFU ) takes over the organization of sport in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. There is only one national team and the teams in the Celtic League, the four provinces of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster, where some counties the latter part of the territory of Northern Ireland.
History
In Ireland the game Caid has a long tradition. It has similarities with rugby and is in addition to hurling a predecessor of today's popular sport Gaelic football.
1854 formed students of Trinity College the first rugby club in Ireland. They had learned the sport in schools in England. From 1874 to 1879 there were two organizations that were responsible for rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU organized play activities in Leinster, Munster and parts of Ulster, the Northern Football Union of Ireland was responsible for the region around Belfast. 1875 denied the national the first international match against England. 1879 decided to merge the two organizations, the Connacht region came in 1886 to do so.
With the division of the country was responsible for the IRFU regions of two states. 1923 you bought a site in the district of Belfast Ravenhill to leave it there host the Games of the national team. 30 years played Ireland in Ravenhill Stadium, until you moved into Lansdowne Road. Due to renovations, the Caps are now at Croke Park, which is approved for rugby and football since 2005, discharged. Before that could take place there only original Irish sports.
Competitions
The four Irish provincial teams compete in the Celtic League, named because of the main sponsor's Magners League against teams from Scotland and Wales. The three best teams of the season qualify for the Heineken Cup, which meet the best European clubs. The fourth team is running in the European Challenge Cup. So far, Ulster and Munster were once each win the Heineken Cup and Celtic League. Leinster is two-time champion of the Celtic League. Connacht could yet win a title at these competitions and is traditionally the weakest of the four Irish teams, because it has a much smaller player base and the Irish sports in this province are far more popular.
Even before the professional era that began in 1995, there were regular meeting of the provinces. The first games were played in the late 19th century. Since 1990, the All-Ireland League, which includes 48 Irish teams that will compete in three divisions against each other exists. The top four clubs playing in a play-off for the title of the respective division. The two most ill-placed relegated to the lower league and replaced by the two strongest in the lower division. Below the All-Ireland League, there are the provincial leagues.
National
The Irish national team belongs to classification of the International Rugby Board the highest strength class ( "first tier" ) and has so far participated in all World Championships. She reached for the six sweeps four times the quarter-finals and, in contrast to the British national teams never made it to the semifinals.
Ireland will participate annually in the Six Nations and was able to win this tournament eleven times. The national team reached the Grand Slam twice (1948 and 2009). As part of the tournament they are playing against England at the Millennium Trophy.
Ireland provides every four years players ready for the national team British and Irish Lions. The player Brian O'Driscoll was captain of the last tour in 2005, when the Lions traveled to New Zealand and lost to the All Blacks all three games. Paul O'Connell has led the Lions in the summer of 2009 to South Africa.
Before the home matches of the national team two anthems are played instead of a national anthem. First, this is Amhrán na bhFiann, the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland. Following an orchestra plays in 1995 specifically for rugby union internationals composed song Ireland's Call. For away games only Ireland's Call is allowed.
Popularity
Rugby union is popular throughout Ireland, particularly popular is the sport, especially in Munster, Ulster and Dublin. According to IRB registered in Ireland more than 100,000 players, who are organized in approximately 200 clubs. In addition, there are 2356 referee.
With the professionalization of sport, and the founding of the Celtic League and the Heineken Cup, Rugby Union has developed in Ireland to one of the most popular and most visited sports. The average attendance at the four provincial teams is one of the highest in the European comparison. The matches are regularly sold out, so up to 80,000 people come to the games of the national team.