An island in the west of Europe with a population of nearly four million, Ireland has been inhabited for some 7,000 years and saw its 26 counties achieve independence from mainland Britain in December 1921 with the Anglo Irish treaty.
Rugby was first played in Ireland in the mid 19th Century, around 20 years before the Irish Rugby Football Union was formed in 1874 and then joined the International Rugby Board 12 years later.
Ireland played their first Test match in February 1875 against England and, having lost that debut 7-0 at The Oval in London, it was 10 matches and six years before they tasted victory with a 3-1 defeat of Scotland in Belfast.
On the domestic front competitions have taken place since the late 1800s with the modern day Inter Provincial Championship between Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connacht first contested in 1920.
Another focus for the domestic game in Ireland, which benefits from the majority of the national side plying their trade at home, is the All Ireland League. This was started in 1990 and has now expanded to four divisions.
There are around 15,000 seniors and three times as many juniors playing rugby in Ireland.