The IRFU has formally launched its one hundred and fiftieth 12 months celebrations which is able to run throughout the 2024/25 marketing campaign from at the moment.
The IRFU will mark the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Eire’s inaugural males’s worldwide rugby match, which happened between Eire and England on fifteenth February 1875, with a calendar of occasions to have a good time the sport of rugby in Eire.
At this time’s occasion was formally marked by IRFU President Declan Madden and Chair of the 150 Working Get together Paul Dean as the brand new crest was unveiled at IRFU’s headquarters in Dublin alongside youth representatives from every of the 4 provinces; Wanderers FC (one of many founding members of the IRFU), Metropolis of Armagh RFC, Ballinasloe RFC and Fethard RFC.
There might be two one hundred and fiftieth Internationals this season with the Wallaroos travelling to face Eire Girls in Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Saturday, 14th September in a sport which may even mark an vital step in Scott Bemand’s facet’s WXV 1 preparations. Andy Farrell’s Males’s crew will then face the Wallabies in Aviva Stadium on Saturday, thirtieth November. Tickets for each video games are on sale now from www.irishrugby.ie, with the Males’s sport now near a sellout.
Each Eire groups will put on specifically produced one-off jerseys, in affiliation with Canterbury, to mark these two fixtures which might be unveiled on the eve of the Girls’s one hundred and fiftieth worldwide celebration match in opposition to the Wallaroos.
This restricted version Canterbury jersey might be launched on thirteenth September, obtainable completely from Intersport Elverys.
To have a good time 150 Years of Irish Rugby, our companions Gilbert will launch a variety of commemorative balls – obtainable quickly from Intersport Elverys and www.gilbertrugby.com.
Along with Gill Books and John Scally, the IRFU presents Collectively Standing Tall – the story of the historical past of Rugby in Eire, informed by way of the folks on the coronary heart of the groups who’ve worn the inexperienced jersey. Superbly illustrated with over 150 pictures from INPHO photographic company it captures the richness of the story of Irish rugby: an epic story of guts, grit and glory. Out there in bookshops nationwide from 5 September.
A ‘Magic Moments’ collection, showcasing iconic moments throughout the historical past of Irish rugby, has launched at the moment throughout the IRFU’s Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channels and can proceed every week throughout the season.
A Gala dinner, celebrating the achievements of Eire’s Grand Slam successes, will happen within the RDS, Dublin on the eve of the Males’s worldwide in opposition to the Wallabies and is a 1,600 promote out with proceeds on the evening, and all year long, going to the IRFU Charitable Belief.
A ‘Providers to Rugby’ medal can pay tribute to those that assist develop the sport at grassroots degree. One of many flagship occasions would be the inaugural ‘Rugby in Eire Day’ in Spring 2025 which is able to showcase Golf equipment and encourage them to open their doorways to present and new members inside their communities by way of a complete on-line information.
The IRFU 150 will assist showcase the work of the ‘Spirit of Rugby’ division by way of various thrilling initiatives together with assist round Incapacity Festivals, highlighting the event of the Youth Council and by internet hosting a collection of webinars throughout a variety of matters reflecting the altering face of the sport in Eire and the season will embody a LGBTQI+ Satisfaction Event in the summertime of 2025.
The IRFU and An Put up have additionally collaborated to provide a particular postmark which is able to launch this October, setting the scene for the problem of two commemorative postage stamps in 2025.
The one hundred and fiftieth celebrations will conclude with the British & Irish Lions dealing with Argentina in Aviva Stadium for the primary time on Irish soil on Friday, June twentieth 2025.
There are a variety of different thrilling partnerships and initiatives happening over the approaching months with extra thrilling bulletins to comply with.
IRFU 150 Working Get together: Paul Dean (Chair), Declan Madden, Niall Rynne, Michael Collopy, Yvonne Comer, Rory Greatest, Ciara Griffin, Rob Kearney, Feargal O’Rourke, Padraig Energy, Peter Breen, Aoife Clarke, Garrett Tubridy and Ben Mulligan.
Declan Madden, President of the IRFU, commented: “The IRFU is happy with each its heritage and its standing in Golf equipment, Colleges and Provinces throughout the island during the last 150 years. The story of rugby in Eire is one among overcoming adversity and thriving in any respect ranges and we’re proud to be part of a contemporary, inclusive and various organisation for women and men, girls and boys.
“Our values of respect, inclusivity, excellence and enjoyable underpin all of our work. The 150 Working Group, chaired by Paul Dean, has labored exhausting during the last two years to create an interesting calendar of occasions to assist bear in mind our proud previous and encourage future generations to the sport. We now have obtained enormous backing from our sensible companions together with Vodafone, Canterbury, Guinness and Gilbert and we’re grateful to them and all our companions for his or her assist.
“Whereas the sport of rugby has been performed for greater than 150 years, this season we’re marking Eire’s first worldwide match, which was in opposition to England in February 1875. Our aims are as follows: to have a good time the previous, body the current and look to the way forward for Irish rugby. In making a calendar of occasions that brings collectively the Irish Rugby neighborhood we’re aiming to ship world-class, memorable and inclusive events for all and encourage future generations to take part in any respect ranges of the Recreation.”
Paul Dean, Chair of the 150 Working Group, added: “We now have an thrilling calendar of occasions to drive consciousness all through the season. On September 14th we’re proud to welcome the Wallaroos to Belfast to face Eire Girls in a mouth-watering sport which is able to whet the urge for food for supporters in Eire. The crew will put on a specifically commissioned Canterbury jersey which might be worn on this sport and within the Eire Males’s sport in opposition to Australia in November.
‘Collectively Standing Tall’, a e book telling the story of Eire’s 150 Years, hits the cabinets this month, whereas in November we might be internet hosting a Gala ball which might be a 1,600 promote out within the RDS on the eve of the Males’s 150 sport.
“Our ‘Magic Moments’ collection kicks off at the moment throughout the IRFU’s social media channels, the place we bear in mind some iconic moments from the story of Irish rugby to have interaction with supporters of all ages, whereas we’re additionally proud to associate with the IRFU Charitable Belief this 12 months throughout various our initiatives.
“We might be partaking with the neighborhood sport with our Providers to Rugby medals and thru the Rugby in Eire Day subsequent Spring, and we are going to work with the Spirit of Rugby division round specifically themed festivals for Incapacity rugby.
“The one hundred and fiftieth celebrations will conclude with the British & Irish Lions dealing with Argentina in Aviva Stadium for the primary time on Irish soil on Friday, June twentieth 2025. This might be a memorable event for everybody linked with Irish rugby. There might be just a few extra surprises nonetheless to come back over the approaching months which we look ahead to sharing sooner or later, but it surely all shapes as much as be a memorable season for Irish rugby.”
