Ireland Wolfhounds

The Ireland Wolfhounds (variously branded as Ireland Wolfhounds, Ireland A, Ireland B and Ireland XV) are the second national rugby union team of Ireland, behind the Ireland national team.

UnionIrish Rugby Football Union

Emblemthe Shamrock

Ground(s)Donnybrook Stadium
Ravenhill Stadium
The Sportsground
Thomond Park
Musgrave Park

CoachCullie Tucker

Quick facts Union, Emblem ...

Ireland Wolfhounds

Union

Irish Rugby Football Union

Emblem

the Shamrock

Ground(s)

Donnybrook Stadium
Ravenhill Stadium
The Sportsground
Thomond Park
Musgrave Park

Coach

Cullie Tucker

Captain

Max Deegan

1st kit

2nd kit

First match

Ireland XV

3–4

France
(26 January 1946)

Largest win

Ireland XV

60–3

Scotland A
(01 March 2002)

Largest defeat

Ireland XV

7–67

Scotland A
(22 February 2008)

Close

History

The Wolfounds previously competed in the Churchill Cup together with the England Saxons, the national teams of Canada and the United States, as well as a selection of other nations' 1st, 2nd and 3rd representative sides (including Scotland A and the New Zealand Māori). They also played against other Six Nations countries' A sides during the Six Nations. They have intermittently played touring sides, namely South Africa in 2000, the All Blacks in 2001 and Australia in 2006. On the 21 June 2009, Ireland A won their first Churchill Cup, beating the England Saxons 49–22 in the final. They also won the Churchill Plate three times in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Initially named Ireland B, the side was redesignated to Ireland A from the 1992–1993 season.^[1] They were once again renamed the Ireland Wolfhounds in January 2010.^[2] This name was inspired by a nomadic invitational side, which competed between 1956 and 1987 against other club sides throughout Ireland.^[3] The Wolfhounds have not competed in a competition since the IRFU declined to compete in the 2016 Tbilisi Cup.^[4] Ireland A played their first match in over seven years against the All Blacks XV in November 2022 at the RDS losing 19–47.^[5]^[6]

Squad

On 21 January, Ireland named their 'XV' squad for their match against England 'A' on 6 February 2026.^[7]

Billy Bohan and Jude Postlethwaite were originally named in the squad, but were subsequently called up to Ireland's full Six Nations squad.

The number of caps in the table below represents caps earned for the senior Ireland national team.

Head Coach: Cullie Tucker

More information Player, Position ...

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Diarmuid Barron	Hooker	(1998-08-06) 6 August 1998 (age 28)	0	Munster
Stephen Smyth	Hooker	(2004-08-01) 1 August 2004 (age 22)	0	Leinster
Gus McCarthy	Hooker	(2003-07-23) 23 July 2003 (age 23)	7	Leinster
Sam Crean	Prop	(2000-06-12) 12 June 2000 (age 26)	0	Ulster
Oli Jager	Prop	(1995-07-05) 5 July 1995 (age 31)	1	Munster
Sam Illo	Prop	(2001-02-16) 16 February 2001 (age 25)	0	Connacht
Scott Wilson	Prop	(2002-08-06) 6 August 2002 (age 24)	0	Ulster
Darragh Murray	Lock	(2001-04-07) 7 April 2001 (age 25)	2	Connacht
Diarmuid Mangan	Lock	(2003-03-06) 6 March 2003 (age 23)	0	Leinster
Charlie Irvine	Lock	(2003-01-28) 28 January 2003 (age 23)	0	Ulster
Paul Boyle	Back row	(1997-01-14) 14 January 1997 (age 29)	1	Connacht
Brian Gleeson	Back row	(2004-02-05) 5 February 2004 (age 22)	0	Munster
Max Deegan (c)	Back row	(1996-10-01) 1 October 1996 (age 29)	4	Leinster
Sean Jansen	Back row	(1999-05-10) 10 May 1999 (age 27)	0	Connacht
Bryn Ward	Back row	(2004-07-16) 16 July 2004 (age 22)	0	Ulster
Ben Murphy	Scrum-half	(2001-04-23) 23 April 2001 (age 25)	2	Connacht
Fintan Gunne	Scrum-half	(2003-07-28) 28 July 2003 (age 23)	0	Leinster
Jack Murphy	Fly-half	(2004-07-15) 15 July 2004 (age 22)	0	Ulster
Cathal Forde	Centre	(2001-04-11) 11 April 2001 (age 25)	0	Connacht
Dan Kelly	Centre	(2001-06-16) 16 June 2001 (age 25)	1()	Munster
James Hume	Centre	(1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 27)	3	Ulster
Zac Ward	Wing	(1998-12-11) 11 December 1998 (age 27)	0	Ulster
Shane Daly	Wing	(1996-12-19) 19 December 1996 (age 29)	2	Munster
Joshua Kenny	Wing	(2003-08-03) 3 August 2003 (age 23)	0	Leinster

Close

Results

Home sides are listed first.

1940s

26 January 1946: Ireland XV 3–4 France, Lansdowne Stadium, Dublin^[8]
6 February 1946: England XV 14–6 Ireland XV, Twickenham Stadium, London
9 February 1946: Ireland XV 4–3 England XV, Lansdowne Stadium, Dublin
23 February 1946: Scotland XV 9–0 Ireland XV, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
9 March 1946: Wales XV 6–4 Ireland XV, Arms Park, Cardiff^[9]

1970s

6 December 1975: Ireland B 9–6 France B, Lansdowne Road, Dublin^[10]
4 December 1976: France B 16–3 Ireland B, Dijon^[10]
4 December 1976: Scotland B 3–7 Ireland B, Murrayfield, Edinburgh^[10]
1 December 1979: Ireland B 13–20 Scotland B, Lansdowne Road, Dublin^[10]

1980s

6 December 1980: England B 20–15 Ireland B, Twickenham Stadium, London^[10]
4 December 1982: Ireland B 6–10 England B, Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast^[10]
3 December 1983: Scotland B 22–13 Ireland B, Murrayfield, Edinburgh^[11]
1 December 1984: Ireland B 23–20 Scotland B, The Sportsground, Galway^[11]
2 September 1989: Canada 21–24 Ireland XV, Centennial Stadium, Victoria, British Columbia^[12]
9 September 1989: United States 7–32 Ireland XV, Downing Stadium, New York^[13]
9 December 1989: Scotland B 22–22 Ireland B, Murrayfield, Edinburgh^[11]

1990s

20 October 1990: Ireland B 27–12 Argentina, Thomond Park, Limerick^[11]
22 December 1990: Ireland B 16–0 Scotland B, Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast^[11]
1 March 1991: Ireland B 24–10 England B, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[11]
28 December 1991: Scotland B 19–29 Ireland B, Murrayfield, Edinburgh^[11]
31 January 1992: England B 47–15 Ireland B, Richmond^[14]
28 December 1992: Ireland A 13―22 Scotland A, Lansdowne Stadium, Dublin^[14]
5 March 1993: Wales A 32―29 Ireland A, Newport^[14]
19 March 1993: Ireland A 18―22 England A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[14]
28 December 1993: Scotland A 24―9 Ireland A, Ayr^[14]
4 February 1994: Ireland A 10―20 Wales A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[14]
18 February 1994: England A 29―10 Ireland A, Richmond^[14]
20 January 1995: Ireland A 20―21 England A, Donnybrook Stadium^[15]
3 February 1995: Scotland A 24―18 Ireland A, Myreside Stadium, Edinburgh^[15]
17 March 1995: Ireland A 19―30 Wales A, Pontypridd^[15]
19 January 1996: Ireland A 26―19 Scotland A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[15]
1 March 1996: Ireland A 25―11 Wales A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[15]
15 March 1996: England A 56―26 Ireland A, Richmond^[15]
12 November 1996: Ireland A 28―25 South Africa A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[15]
17 January 1997: Ireland A 23―44 France A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[16]
31 January 1997: Emerging Wales 34―14 Ireland A, Pontypridd^[16]
14 February 1997: Ireland A 30―44 England A, Donnybrook Stadium^[16]
28 February 1997: Scotland A 33―34 Ireland A, Myreside Stadium, Edinburgh^[16]
22 May 1997: Northland 69―16 Ireland A, Whangārei^[17]
26 May 1997: New Zealand Academy 74―15 Ireland A, North Harbour Stadium, Albany^[18]
29 May 1997: Bay of Plenty 52―39 Ireland A, Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua^[19]
1 June 1997: Thames Valley 12―38 Ireland A, Paeroa^[20]
6 June 1997: King Country 32―26 Ireland A, Owen Delany Park, Taupō^[21]
10 June 1997: New Zealand Māori 41―10 Ireland A, Oval Grounds, Palmerston North^[22]
14 June 1997: Samoa 57―25 Ireland A, Apia Park, Apia, Att. 12,000^[23]^[24]
26 November 1997: Ireland A 26―10 Canada, Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast^[16]
6 February 1998: Ireland A 9―11 Scotland A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[16]
6 March 1998: France A 30―30 Ireland A, Quimper^[16]
20 March 1998: Ireland A 27―42 Wales A, Thomond Park, Limerick, Att. 7,000^[25]
3 April 1998: England A 40―30 Ireland A, Richmond^[26]
1 December 1998: Ireland A 19―50 South Africa, Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast, Att. 10,000^[26]^[27]
5 February 1999: Ireland A 26―25 France A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[26]
19 February 1999: Wales A 40―29 Ireland A, Ebbw Vale^[26]
5 March 1999: Ireland A 21―28 England A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[26]
19 March 1999: Scotland A 31―21 Ireland A, Myreside Stadium, Edinburgh^[26]
9 April 1999: Ireland A 73―17 Italy A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[28]

2000s

4 February 2000: England A 30―31 Ireland A, Franklin Gardens, Northampton^[29]
18 February 2000: Ireland A 23―21 Scotland A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[30]
3 March 2000: Ireland A 31―3 Italy A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[31]
18 March 2000: France A 31–25 Ireland A, Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand^[32]
31 March 2000: Ireland A 28―26 Wales A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[33]^[34]
15 November 2000: Ireland A 28–11 South Africa XV, Thomond Park, Limerick^[35]^[36]
2 February 2001: Italy A 16–68 Ireland A, Viterbo^[37]
16 February 2001: Ireland A 23–55 France A, Ravenhill, Belfast^[38]
8 November 2001: Ireland A 23–18 Samoa, Donnybrook, Dublin^[39]
13 November 2001: Ireland A 30–43 New Zealand XV, Ravenhill, Belfast^[40]
2 February 2002: Ireland A 55–22 Wales A, Musgrave Park, Cork^[41]
15 February 2002: England A 18–25 Ireland A, Franklin Gardens, Northampton^[42]^[43]
1 March 2002: Ireland A 60–3 Scotland A, Ravenhill, Belfast^[44]
22 March 2002: Ireland A 59–5 Italy A, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin^[45]
5 April 2002: France A 30–20 Ireland A, La Roche-sur-Yon^[46]
15 February 2003: Scotland A 22–22 Ireland A, Bridgehaugh^[47]
21 February 2003: Italy A 11–28 Ireland A
7 March 2003: Ireland A 19–29 France A, Ravenhill, Belfast^[48]
28 March 2003: Ireland A 24–21 England A, Donnybrook, Dublin, Att. 6,000^[49]
11 March 2005: Ireland A 15–9 France A, Donnybrook, Dublin^[50]
10 February 2006: France A 20―12 Ireland A, Limoges^[51]
17 March 2006: England A 18–33 Ireland A, Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester^[52]
3 June 2006: United States 13–28 Ireland A, Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara, Att. 3,700^[53]
10 June 2006: New Zealand Māori 27–6 Ireland A, Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara^[54]
17 June 2006: Ireland A 30―27 England Saxons, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton^[55]
15 November 2006: Ireland A 17–24 Australia A, Thomond Park, Limerick, Att. 6,500^[56]
9 February 2007: Ireland A 5–32 England Saxons, Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast, Att. 3,528^[57]
19 May 2007: Ireland A 39–20 Canada, Sandy Park, Exeter^[58]
29 May 2007: New Zealand Māori 50―22 Ireland A, Sandy Park, Exeter, Att. 4,679^[59]
2 June 2007: Ireland A 22–21 Scotland A, Twickenham, London^[60]
1 February 2008: England Saxons 31–13 Ireland A, Welford Road Stadium, Leicester^[61]
22 February 2008: Scotland A 67–7 Ireland A, McDiarmid Park, Perth^[62]
11 June 2008: Ireland A 46―9 United States, Richardson Memorial Stadium, Kingston^[63]
14 June 2008: Ireland A 12–34 England Saxons, Fletcher's Field, Markham^[64]
21 June 2008: Argentina A 8―33 Ireland A, Toyota Park^[65]
6 February 2009: Ireland A P―P England Saxons, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin, Att. 1,500^[66]
13 February 2009: Ireland A 35―10 Scotland A, RDS Arena, Dublin^[67]
10 June 2009: Ireland A 30–19 Canada, Infinity Park, Glendale^[68]
14 June 2009: Ireland A 40―5 Georgia, Infinity Park, Glendale^[69]
21 June 2009: England Saxons 22―49 Ireland A, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver^[70]
13 November 2009: Ireland A 48–19 Tonga XV, Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast, Att. 3,777^[71]
27 November 2009: Ireland A 31–0 Argentina Jaguars, Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Att. 4,016^[72]

2010s

31 January 2010: England Saxons 17–13 Ireland A, Recreation Ground, Bath^[73]
5 February 2010: Ireland Wolfhounds 34–19 Scotland A, Ravenhill, Belfast, Att. 2,746^[74]^[75]
28 January 2011: Scotland A 32–12 Ireland Wolfhounds, Netherdale^[76]
4 February 2011: Ireland Wolfhounds 20–11 England Saxons, Ravenhill, Belfast, Att. 2,000^[77]
28 January 2012: England Saxons 23–17 Ireland Wolfhounds, Sandy Park, Exeter^[78]
16 November 2012: Ireland XV 53–0 Fiji, Thomond Park, Limerick, Att. 17,126^[79]
25 January 2013: Ireland Wolfhounds 10–14 England Saxons, The Sportsground, Galway^[80]
25 January 2014: England Saxons 8–14 Ireland Wolfhounds, Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester^[81]
30 January 2015: Ireland Wolfhounds 9–18 England Saxons, Musgrave Park, Cork, Att. 8,200^[82]^[83]

2020s

4 November 2022: Ireland A 19–47 All Blacks XV, RDS Arena, Dublin^[6]
23 February 2025: England A 28–12 Ireland A, Ashton Gate, Bristol^[84]
8 November 2025: Spain 24–61 Ireland XV Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganés, Att. 11,236^[85]
6 February 2026: Ireland A 14–52 England XV, Thomond Park, Limerick^[86]

Home record

More information Facility, Played ...

Ireland A Home Record
Facility	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	% Won
Donnybrook Stadium	19	12	0	7	63.16%
The Sportsground	2	1	0	1	50%
Lansdowne Road	5	2	0	3	40%
Musgrave Park	2	1	0	1	50%
Ravenhill Stadium	12	6	0	6	50%
RDS Arena	2	1	0	1	50%
Tallaght Stadium	1	1	0	0	100%
Thomond Park	6	3	0	3	50%
Total	49	27	0	22	55.1%

Close

Above is the Ireland Wolfhound's home record in each stadium. Up to date as of 7 February 2026.

Statistics

Overall

More information Against, Played ...

Against	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff	% Won
Argentina	1	1	0	0	27	12	+15	100.00%
Argentina Jaguars	2	2	0	0	64	8	+56	100.00%
Australia A	1	0	0	1	17	24	–7	0%
Bay of Plenty (New Zealand)	1	0	0	1	39	52	–13	0%
Canada	4	4	0	0	119	70	+49	100%
England Saxons	30	10	0	20	556	748	–192	33.33%
Fiji	1	1	0	0	53	0	+53	100%
France	1	0	0	1	3	4	–1	0%
France A	11	4	1	6	205	295	–90	36.36%
Georgia	1	1	0	0	40	5	+35	100%
Italy A	5	5	0	0	259	52	+207	100%
King Country (New Zealand)	1	0	0	1	26	32	–6	0%
New Zealand Academy	1	0	0	1	15	74	–59	0%
Māori	3	0	0	3	38	118	–80	0%
New Zealand XV	1	0	0	1	30	43	–13	0%
All Blacks XV	1	0	0	1	19	47	–28	0%
Northland (New Zealand)	1	0	0	1	16	69	–53	0%
Samoa	2	1	0	1	48	75	–27	50%
Scotland A	23	11	2	10	468	474	–6	47.83%
South Africa	1	0	0	1	19	50	—31	0.00%
South Africa A	1	1	0	0	28	25	+3	100%
South Africa XV	1	1	0	0	28	11	+17	100.00%
Spain	1	1	0	0	61	24	+37	100.00%
Thames Valley (New Zealand University)	1	1	0	0	38	12	+26	100%
Tonga XV	1	1	0	0	48	19	+29	100%
United States	3	3	0	0	106	29	+77	100%
Wales A	10	3	0	7	240	263	–23	30%
Total	110	51	3	56	2,610	2,635	–25	46.36%

Close

The above is a list of the Ireland Wolfhounds' head-to-head record against international first and second sides, non-national representative sides such as the New Zealand Māori, as well as some club sides. Up to date as of last match: Ireland XV 14–52 England XV on 7 February 2026.

Honours

Six Nations A Championship
- Winners: 1 (2002)^[46]
Six Nations A Triple Crown
- Winners: 2 (2000, 2002)^[44]
Churchill Cup
- Winners: 1 (2009)
Churchill Plate
- Winners: 3 (2006, 2007, 2008)
Melrose Sevens
- Winners: 1 (1991)

Ireland Wolfhounds

History

Squad

Results

1940s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Home record

Statistics

Overall

Honours

See also

References

External links

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Top Qs

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