Ireland national rugby union team tours explained

This article is a list of statistics from the Ireland rugby union team's 34 international tours. The article also includes details of the Ireland Wolfhounds' and Developmental sides' three international tours.

Ireland Rugby Tours

Year	To	Captain	Head coach	Result	Score
1899	Canada^[1] ^[2]	James Franks		N/A	N/A
1952	Chile & Argentina^[3]	Des O'Brien	GPS Hogan	Won	1–1–0
1961	South Africa	Ronnie Dawson		Lost	0–1
1967	Australia^[4]	Tom Kiernan	Eugene Davy	Won	1–0
1970	Argentina	Tom Kiernan	E. Patterson	Lost	0–2
1976	New Zealand & Fiji^[5]	Tom Grace	K. Quilligan	Lost Won	0–1 (New Zealand) 1–0 (Fiji)
1979	Australia	Fergus Slattery	J. Coffey	Won	2–0
1981	South Africa^[6]	Fergus Slattery	P. Madigan	Lost	0–2
1985	Japan	Ciaran Fitzgerald	Des McKibbin	Won	2–0
1988	France	Willie Anderson	Jimmy Davidson	N/A	N/A
1989	Canada & United States	Willie Anderson	Jimmy Davidson	Won Won	1–0 (Canada) 1–0 (United States)
1991	Namibia^[7]	Phillip Matthews	Ciaran Fitzgerald	Lost	0–2
1992	New Zealand^[8]	Phil Danaher		Lost	0–2
1994	Australia	Michael Bradley	Gerry Murphy	Lost	0–2
1998	South Africa	Paddy Johns	Warren Gatland	Lost	0–2
1999	Australia	Dion O'Cuinneagain	Warren Gatland	Lost	0–2
2000	Argentina, United States & Canada	Keith Wood	Warren Gatland	Lost Won Drew	0–1 (Argentina) 1–0 (United States) 0–0 (Canada)
2002	New Zealand^[9] ^[10]	Keith Wood	Eddie O'Sullivan	Lost	0–2
2003	Australia, Tonga & Samoa^[11] ^[12] ^[13]	David Humphreys Reggie Corrigan	Eddie O'Sullivan	Lost Won Won	0–1 (Australia) 1–0 (Tonga) 1–0 (Samoa)
2004	South Africa	Brian O'Driscoll	Eddie O'Sullivan	Lost	0–2
2005	Japan^[14] ^[15]	David Humphreys	Niall O'Donovan	Won	2–0
2006	New Zealand & Australia^[16] ^[17] ^[18]	Brian O'Driscoll	Eddie O'Sullivan	Lost Lost	0–2 (New Zealand) 0–1 (Australia)
2007	Argentina^[19] ^[20]	Simon Best	Eddie O'Sullivan	Lost	0–2
2008	New Zealand & Australia	Brian O'Driscoll	Michael Bradley	Lost Lost	0–1 (New Zealand) 0–1 (Australia)
2009	Canada & United States^[21]	Rory Best	Declan Kidney	Won Won	1–0 (Canada) 1–0 (United States)
2010	New Zealand & Australia^[22] ^[23] ^[24]	Brian O'Driscoll	Declan Kidney	Lost	0–1 (New Zealand) 0–1 (Australia)
2012	New Zealand^[25]	Brian O'Driscoll	Declan Kidney	Lost	0–3 (New Zealand)
2013	Canada & United States	Peter O'Mahony	Les Kiss	Won	1–0 (Canada) 1–0 (United States)
2014	Argentina^[26]	Paul O'Connell	Joe Schmidt	Won	2–0
2016	South Africa	Rory Best	Joe Schmidt	Lost	1–2
2017	Japan^[27]	Rhys Ruddock	Joe Schmidt	Won	2–0
2018	Australia	Rory Best	Joe Schmidt	Won	2–1
2022	New Zealand^[28]	Johnny Sexton	Andy Farrell	Won	2–1
2024	South Africa^[29]	Peter O'Mahony/ Caelan Doris	Andy Farrell	Drew	1–1

Tour Statistics

Flag	Nation or Nations	From	To	Test Matches				Tour Matches				Total Record
				P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	%	PF	PA	PD
	1889 tour of Canada^[30]	12 October	6 November	-	-	-	-	11	10	-	1	11	10	-	1	%	150	50	+100
		1 August	3 September	-	-	-	-	9	6	2	1	9	6	2	1	%	126	43	+83
	1961 tour of South Africa Test Series Ireland 0–1 South Africa	13 May	24 May	1	-	-	1	3	3	-	-	4	3	-	1	%	59	36	+23
	1967 tour of Australia Test Series Ireland 1–0 Australia	1 May	20 May	1	1	-	-	5	3	-	2	6	4	-	2	%	119	80	+39
	1970 tour of Argentina Test Series Ireland 0–2 Argentina	30 August	20 September	-	-	-	-	7	4	-	3	7	4	-	3	%	73	57	+16
	1976 tour of New Zealand & Fiji Test Series Ireland 0–1 New Zealand Ireland 1–0 Fiji (Tour Match)	15 May	9 June	1	-	-	1	7	5	-	2	8	5	-	3	%	88	68	+20
	1979 tour of Australia Test Series Ireland 2–0 Australia	20 May	16 June	2	2	-	-	6	5	-	1	8	7	-	1	%	184	75	+109
	1981 tour of South Africa Test Series Ireland 0–2 South Africa	16 May	6 June	2	-	-	2	5	3	-	2	7	3	-	4	%	207	90	+117
	1985 tour of Japan Test Series Ireland 2–0 Japan	19 May	2 June	-	-	-	-	5	5	-	-	5	5	-	-	%	201	66	+135
	1988 tour of France Test Series	May	22 May	-	-	-	-	4	1	-	3	4	1	-	3	%	75	104	-29
	1989 tour of North America Test Series Ireland 1–0 Canada Ireland 1–0 United States	30 August	9 September	-	-	-	-	4	4	-	-	4	4	-	-	%	135	52	+83
	1991 tour of Namibia Test Series Ireland 0–2 Namibia	17 June	27 June	2	-	-	2	2	2	-	-	4	2	-	2	%	101	61	+40
	1992 tour of New Zealand Test Series Ireland 0–2 New Zealand	16 May	6 June	2	-	-	2	6	3	-	3	8	3	-	5	%	153	287	-134
	1994 tour of Australia Test Series Ireland 0–2 Australia	18 May	11 June	2	-	-	2	6	2	-	4	8	2	-	6	%	177	254	-77
	1998 tour of South Africa Test Series Ireland 0–2 South Africa	30 May	20 June	2	-	-	2	5	2	-	3	7	2	-	5	%	113	144	-31
	1999 tour of Australia Test Series Ireland 0–2 Australia	31 May	19 June	2	-	-	2	2	1	-	1	4	1	-	3	%	103	123	-20
	2000 Ireland rugby union tour of the Americas^[31] ^[32] ^[33] Test Series Ireland 0–1 Argentina Ireland 0–1–0 Canada Ireland 1–0 United States	3 June	17 June	3	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	3	1	1	1	%	133	64	+69
	2002 tour of New Zealand^[34] Test Series Ireland 0–2 New Zealand	8 June	22 June	2	-	-	2	1	1	-	-	3	1	-	2	%	70	58	+12
	2003 Ireland rugby union tour of the Southern Hemisphere Test Series Ireland 0–1 Australia Ireland 1–0 Tonga Ireland 1–0 Western Samoa	7 June	20 June	3	2	-	1	-	-	-	-	3	1	-	2	%	96	78	+18
	2004 tour of South Africa^[35] ^[36] Test Series Ireland 0–2 South Africa	12 June	19 June	2	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	2	%	34	57	-23
	2005 tour of Japan Test Series Ireland 2–0 Japan	12 June	19 June	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	%	91	30	+61
	2006 tour of New Zealand and Australia Test Series Ireland 0–1 Australia Ireland 0–2 All Blacks	10 June	24 June	3	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	3	%	55	98	-43
	2007 tour of Argentina Test Series Ireland 0–2 Argentina	26 May	2 June	2	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	2	%	20	38	-18
	2008 tour of New Zealand and Australia^[37] ^[38] Test Series Ireland 0–1 Australia Ireland 0–1 All Blacks	7 June	14 June	2	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	2	%	23	39	-16
	2009 tour of North America Test Series Ireland 1–0 Canada Ireland 1–0 United States	23 May	24 June	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	%	52	16	+36
	2010 tour of New Zealand and Australia Test Series Ireland 0–1 Australia Ireland 0–1 All Blacks	12 June	26 June	2	-	-	2	1	-	-	1	3	-	-	3	%	71	118	-47
	2012 tour of New Zealand Test Series Ireland 0–3 All Blacks	9 June	23 June	3	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	3	%	29	124	-47
	2013 tour of North America^[39] ^[40] Test Series Ireland 1–0 Canada Ireland 1–0 United States	8 June	15 June	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	%	55	26	+29
	2014 tour of Argentina Test Series Ireland 2–0 Argentina	7 June	14 June	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	%	52	34	+18
	2016 tour of South Africa^[41] Test Series Ireland 1–2 South Africa	11 June	25 June	2	1	-	2	-	-	-	-	3	1	-	2	%	65	71	-6
	2017 tour of Japan Test Series Ireland 2–0 Japan	17 June	24 June	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	%	85	35	+50
	2018 tour of Australia^[42] Test Series Ireland 2–1 Australia	9 June	23 June	3	2	-	1	-	-	-	-	3	2	-	1	%	55	55	0
	2022 tour of New Zealand Test Series Ireland 2–1 New Zealand	29 June	16 July	3	2	-	1	2	1	-	1	5	3	-	2	%	121	132	-11
	2024 tour of South Africa Test Series Ireland 1–1 South Africa	6 July	13 July	2	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	2	1	-	1	%	45	51	-6
Total	34 Tours			58	22	1	37	91	61	2	28	151	82	3	66	%	3216	2714	+502

Ireland A, Emerging Ireland & Development Rugby Tours

Year	To	Captain	Head coach	Result	Score
1993	South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe	Kevin Potts	Gerry Murphy	Won	1–0 (Zimbabwe)
1997	Oceania^[43]	Gabriel Fulcher Gary Halpin	Brian Ashton	Lost	0–1 (Western Samoa XV)
2022	South Africa	Max Deegan Cian Prendergast	Simon Easterby	Won	3–0 (All tour matches)

Tour Statistics

Flag	Nation or Nations	From	To	Test Matches				Tour Matches				Total Record
				P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	%	PF	PA	PD
	1993 South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe tour	21 July	11 August	1	1	-	-	6	5	-	1	7	6	-	1	%	219	103	+116
	1997 Oceania tour^[44]	22 May	14 June	1	-	-	1	6	1	-	5	7	1	-	6	%	169	337	-168
	2022 South Africa tour^[45]	30 September	9 October	-	-	-	-	3	3	-	-	3	3	-	-	%	103	45	+58
Total	3 Tours			2	1	0	1	15	9	0	6	17	10	0	7	%	491	485	+6

Notes and References

1. Web site: IRELAND'S OVERSEAS TOURS . Irish Rugby . 20 December 2021 . 5 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191205144037/https://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history_73.htm . dead .
2. Web site: Canadian links date to last century . Irish Times . 20 December 2021.
3. Web site: ARGENTINA AND CHILE 1952 . Irish Rugby . 23 December 2021.
4. Web site: ARGENTINA . Irish Rugby . 23 December 2021.
5. Web site: Irish Rugby 1874–1999 — A History . Irish Rugby . 23 December 2021.
6. Web site: Ireland Rugby tours . Irish Rugby . 23 December 2021 . 5 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191205144046/https://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history_77.htm . dead .
7. Web site: Irish Rugby 1874–1999 — A History . Irish Rugby . 23 December 2021 . 5 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191205144048/https://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history_78.htm . dead .
8. Web site: Ireland Rugby tours . Irish Rugby . 23 December 2021 . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223193010/https://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history_79.htm . dead .
9. Web site: No Joy For Ireland . 24 December 2021.
10. Web site: Final Test Win For All Blacks . Irish Rugby . 24 December 2021.
11. Web site: Aussie Win In The Subiaco . 30 November 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071121114008/http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_2788.php . 21 November 2007 . dead . dmy-all .
12. Web site: Irish Hit Tonga For Six . 30 November 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071121112511/http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_2803.php . 21 November 2007 . dead . dmy-all .
13. Web site: O'Gara The Star in Irish Victory . 30 November 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071121112651/http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_2821.php . 21 November 2007 . dead . dmy-all .
14. Web site: Ireland Claim Four-Try Win Over Japan . Ireland Rugby . 24 December 2021.
15. Web site: Ireland End Season On Winning Note . Irish Rugby . 24 December 2021.
16. Web site: Pluck of O'Driscoll's Irish not enough as All Black second string stir into life. The Guardian. 11 June 2006. 17 August 2013.
17. Web site: All Blacks clinch Ireland series. The Guardian. 17 June 2006. 17 August 2013.
18. Web site: Ireland secure credit where England met derision. The Guardian. 25 June 2006. 17 August 2013.
19. Web site: Wallace adds to Ireland's woes after bruising defeat . The Guardian . 23 December 2021.
20. Web site: O'Sullivan draws lessons from pointless display . The Guardian . 23 December 2021.
21. Web site: USA 10-27 Ireland. 31 May 2009. 14 September 2017. BBC News.
22. Web site: Irish Rugby : All Blacks Dominate Against 14-Man Ireland. 14 June 2010. 14 September 2017. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20100614204838/http://www.irishrugby.ie/21_21174.php. 14 June 2010. dmy-all.
23. News: New Zealand Maori 31-28 Ireland. 18 June 2010. 14 September 2017. BBC News.
24. News: Australia 22-15 Ireland. 26 June 2010. 14 September 2017. BBC News.
25. Web site: Ireland End Tour With Heavy Loss . 23 June 2012 . irishrugby.ie . 23 June 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120628113450/http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/26771.php . 28 June 2012 . dmy .
26. Web site: Ireland battle to hard-fought win. ESPN. Staff. espn.co.uk. 14 September 2017.
27. Web site: Ireland sign off from summer tour with convincing Japan win . espnscrum . 23 December 2021.
28. Web site: Ireland stun the All Blacks to become just the fifth touring side to win series in New Zealand . the42 . 16 July 2022.
29. Web site: Frawley Provides Epic End To Ireland's Season . Irish Rugby . 15 July 2024.
30. Ireland did not award caps for this series
31. Web site: Rugby: Ireland lose to Argentina by 34-23 . RTE . 24 December 2021.
32. Web site: Pacey Irish romp to a record 13-try win . Irish Times . 24 December 2021.
33. Web site: Canada Ireland . Irish Rugby . 24 December 2021.
34. Web site: Record Win For Ireland in Timaru . 24 December 2021 .
35. Web site: BBC. South Africa 31–17 Ireland. 15 November 2006 . 12 June 2004.
36. Web site: BBC. South Africa 26–17 Ireland. 15 November 2006 . 19 June 2004.
37. Web site: The wait goes on as Ireland fail to fill their boots in Wellington . The Guardian . 23 December 2021.
38. Web site: Kearney impresses, but Ireland run out of steam . The Guardian . 23 December 2021.
39. Web site: Ian Madigan kicks Ireland to victory. espn.co.uk. 14 September 2017.
40. Web site: Ireland rout Canada. espn.co.uk. 14 September 2017.
41. Web site: South Africa vs Ireland - Report - Ireland tour 2016 2016 - 25 Jun, 2016 - ESPN. ESPN.com.
42. News: Schmidt Praises Character Of Players As Ireland Claim Historic Series Win. 23 June 2018. Irish Rugby. 24 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180624153308/http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/42197.php. 24 June 2018. dead.
43. Web site: Samoans witness start of Irish rugby revolution . Irish Times . 29 October 2021.
44. Web site: IRELAND A: DEVELOPMENT TOUR TONEW ZEALAND AND WESTERN SAMOAMAY–JUNE 1997 . Irish Rugby . 23 December 2021 . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223161046/https://www.irishrugby.ie/history/css/arch_history_80.htm . dead .
45. Web site: Emerging Ireland earn clean sweep after hard-fought Cheetahs win . Extra . 1 November 2022.