Here are the names of Irish rugby players who played for Ireland over a period of 25 years since the sport went professional.
The International Rugby Board agreed to allow professional rugby in August 1995. But the Irish authorities dragged their heels reluctantly to enter the new era.
This is why I’ve set the start of this list to a year later in 1996.
Irish Rugby Player Names In the Professional Era
The list of Irish rugby player names starts with the last player to get his first cap in 2021.
When you scroll down to the bottom, you’ll see players who made their test debut in 1984, 1987, and 1988. These players started their rugby careers in the amateur days and were still playing when the game went pro.
I’ve listed one club or province for each player. This doesn’t represent the fact that many players moved between clubs and represented two or more during their careers. I’ve picked the one that I most associate with that player.
Related articles
If you’re interested in the impact of professionalism, check out our article on what rugby players earn in Ireland.
If you’re curious about which of these players also toured with the British & Irish Lions, check out our article on Irish Lions players.
First Capped For Ireland Between 2017-2021
| First Name | Last Name | Main Club/Province | Caps | First Cap |
| Dan | Sheehan | Leinster | 1 | 6 Nov 2021 |
| Robert | Baloucoune | Ulster | 1 | 10 Jul 2021 |
| Caolin | Blade | Connacht | 1 | 10 Jul 2021 |
| Paul | Boyle | Connacht | 1 | 10 Jul 2021 |
| Harry | Byrne | Leinster | 1 | 10 Jul 2021 |
| James | Hume | Ulster | 1 | 10 Jul 2021 |
| Tom | O’Toole | Ulster | 1 | 10 Jul 2021 |
| Nick | Timoney | Munster | 1 | 10 Jul 2021 |
| Fineen | Wycherley | Munster | 1 | 10 Jul 2021 |
| Gavin | Coombes | Munster | 2 | 03 Jul 2021 |
| Ryan | Baird | Leinster | 4 | 27 Feb 2021 |
| Craig | Casey | Munster | 3 | 27 Feb 2021 |
| Eric | O’Sullivan | Ulster | 1 | 05 Dec 2020 |
| Shane | Daly | Munster | 2 | 29 Nov 2020 |
| Billy | Burns | Ulster | 7 | 13 Nov 2020 |
| James | Lowe | Leinster | 7 | 13 Nov 2020 |
| Ed | Byrne | Leinster | 6 | 24 Oct 2020 |
| Will | Connors | Leinster | 9 | 24 Oct 2020 |
| Hugo | Keenan | Leinster | 14 | 24 Oct 2020 |
| Jamison | Park | Leinster | 11 | 24 Oct 2020 |
| Max | Deegan | Leinster | 1 | 08 Feb 2020 |
| Caelan | Doris | Leinster | 10 | 01 Feb 2020 |
| Rónan | Kelleher | Leinster | 14 | 01 Feb 2020 |
| Mike | Haley | Munster | 1 | 10 Aug 2019 |
| Jean | Kleyn | Munster | 5 | 10 Aug 2019 |
| Jack | Carty | Connacht | 10 | 24 Feb 2019 |
| Sammy | Arnold | Ulster | 1 | 24 Nov 2018 |
| Will | Addison | Ulster | 5 | 03 Nov 2018 |
| Ross | Byrne | Leinster | 13 | 03 Nov 2018 |
| Tadhg | Beirne | Munster | 23 | 16 Jun 2018 |
| Jordan | Larmour | Leinster | 30 | 10 Feb 2018 |
| Adam | Byrne | Leinster | 1 | 25 Nov 2017 |
| Chris | Farrell | Munster | 15 | 18 Nov 2017 |
| Bundee | Aki | Connacht | 32 | 11 Nov 2017 |
| Darren | Sweetnam | Munster | 3 | 11 Nov 2017 |
| John | Cooney | Connacht | 11 | 24 Jun 2017 |
| Rory | O’Loughlin | Leinster | 1 | 17 Jun 2017 |
| Kieran | Treadwell | Ulster | 3 | 17 Jun 2017 |
| Dave | Heffernan | Connacht | 6 | 10 Jun 2017 |
| Andrew | Porter | Leinster | 38 | 10 Jun 2017 |
| James | Ryan | Leinster | 38 | 10 Jun 2017 |
| Rory | Scannell | Munster | 3 | 10 Jun 2017 |
| Jacob | Stockdale | Ulster | 35 | 10 Jun 2017 |
| Andrew | Conway | Munster | 26 | 18 Mar 2017 |
| Niall | Scannell | Munster | 20 | 11 Feb 2017 |
First Capped For Ireland Between 2012-2016
| First Name | Last Name | Main Club/Province | Caps | First Cap |
| Niyi | Adeolokun | Connacht | 1 | 12 Nov 2016 |
| Billy | Holland | Munster | 1 | 12 Nov 2016 |
| Dan | Leavy | Leinster | 11 | 12 Nov 2016 |
| Luke | McGrath | Leinster | 19 | 12 Nov 2016 |
| Jack | O’Donoghue | Munster | 2 | 12 Nov 2016 |
| Garry | Ringrose | Leinster | 35 | 12 Nov 2016 |
| John | Ryan | Munster | 24 | 12 Nov 2016 |
| James | Tracy | Leinster | 6 | 12 Nov 2016 |
| Joey | Carbery | Munster | 25 | 05 Nov 2016 |
| Matt | Healy | Connacht | 1 | 25 Jun 2016 |
| Tiernan | O’Halloran | Connacht | 6 | 18 Jun 2016 |
| Sean | Reidy | Ulster | 2 | 18 Jun 2016 |
| Quinn | Roux | Connacht | 16 | 18 Jun 2016 |
| Finlay | Bealham | Connacht | 17 | 12 Mar 2016 |
| Ultan | Dillane | Connacht | 19 | 27 Feb 2016 |
| Josh | Flier | Leinster | 33 | 27 Feb 2016 |
| Stuart | McCloskey | Ulster | 6 | 27 Feb 2016 |
| CJ | Stander | Munster | 50 | 07 Feb 2016 |
| Tadhg | Furlong | Leinster | 50 | 29 Aug 2015 |
| Jack | Conan | Leinster | 21 | 15 Aug 2015 |
| Nathan | White | Connacht | 13 | 15 Aug 2015 |
| Robin | Copeland | Ulster | 1 | 16 Nov 2014 |
| Dave | Foley | Munster | 2 | 16 Nov 2014 |
| Dominic | Ryan | Leinster | 1 | 16 Nov 2014 |
| Jared | Payne | Ulster | 20 | 08 Nov 2014 |
| James | Cronin | Munster | 3 | 13 Jun 2014 |
| Rob | Herring | Ulster | 22 | 13 Jun 2014 |
| Noel | Reid | Leinster | 1 | 13 Jun 2014 |
| Robbie | Diack | Ulster | 2 | 07 Jun 2014 |
| Kieran | Marmion | Connacht | 28 | 07 Jun 2014 |
| Rodney | You | Ulster | 3 | 07 Jun 2014 |
| Jordi | Murphy | Leinster | 30 | 22 Feb 2014 |
| Martin | Moore | Leinster | 10 | 02 Feb 2014 |
| Dave | Kearney | Leinster | 19 | 09 Nov 2013 |
| Jack | McGrath | Leinster | 56 | 09 Nov 2013 |
| James | Downey | Munster | 1 | 15 Jun 2013 |
| Jamie | Hagan | Connacht | 1 | 08 Jun 2013 |
| Robbie | Henshaw | Leinster | 52 | 08 Jun 2013 |
| Tommy | O’Donnell | Munster | 13 | 08 Jun 2013 |
| Stuart | Olding | Ulster | 4 | 08 Jun 2013 |
| Mike | Sherry | Munster | 1 | 08 Jun 2013 |
| Stephen | Archer | Munster | 2 | 16 Mar 2013 |
| Paul | Marshall | Ulster | 3 | 16 Mar 2013 |
| Ian | Madigan | Leinster | 30 | 09 Mar 2013 |
| Paddy | Jackson | Ulster | 25 | 24 Feb 2013 |
| Luke | Marshall | Ulster | 11 | 24 Feb 2013 |
| Craig | Gilroy | Ulster | 10 | 24 Nov 2012 |
| Michael | Bent | Leinster | 4 | 10 Nov 2012 |
| Iain | Henderson | Ulster | 64 | 10 Nov 2012 |
| Dave | Kilcoyne | Munster | 45 | 10 Nov 2012 |
| Richardt | Strauss | Leinster | 17 | 10 Nov 2012 |
| Declan | Fitzpatrick | Ulster | 7 | 09 Jun 2012 |
| Ronan | Loughney | Connacht | 1 | 09 Jun 2012 |
| Simon | Zebo | Munster | 35 | 09 Jun 2012 |
| Peter | O’Mahony | Munster | 77 | 25 Feb 2012 |
First Capped For Ireland Between 2007 And 2011
| First Name | Last Name | Main Club/Province | Caps | First Cap |
| Conor | Murray | Munster | 90 | 14 Aug 2011 |
| Felix | Jones | Munster | 13 | 06 Aug 2011 |
| Mike | McCarthy | Leinster | 19 | 06 Aug 2011 |
| Fergus | McFadden | Leinster | 34 | 05 Feb 2011 |
| Devin | Toner | Leinster | 70 | 13 Nov 2010 |
| Chris | Henry | Ulster | 24 | 26 Jun 2010 |
| Rhys | Ruddock | Leinster | 27 | 26 Jun 2010 |
| Damien | Varley | Munster | 3 | 26 Jun 2010 |
| John | Fogarty | Leinster | 1 | 12 Jun 2010 |
| Dan | Tuohy | Ulster | 11 | 12 Jun 2010 |
| Kevin | McLaughlin | Leinster | 8 | 06 Feb 2010 |
| Seán | Cronin | Leinster | 72 | 21 Nov 2009 |
| Seán | O’Brien | Leinster | 56 | 21 Nov 2009 |
| Jonathan | Sexton | Leinster | 100 | 21 Nov 2009 |
| Cian | Healy | Leinster | 110 | 15 Nov 2009 |
| Denis | Hurley | Munster | 1 | 31 May 2009 |
| Ryan | Caldwell | Ulster | 2 | 23 May 2009 |
| Darren | Cave | Ulster | 11 | 23 May 2009 |
| Ian | Dowling | Munster | 2 | 23 May 2009 |
| Ian | Keatley | Munster | 7 | 23 May 2009 |
| John | Muldoon | Connacht | 3 | 23 May 2009 |
| Niall | Ronan | Munster | 4 | 23 May 2009 |
| Mike | Ross | Leinster | 61 | 23 May 2009 |
| Ian | Whitten | Ulster | 2 | 23 May 2009 |
| Tom | Court | Ulster | 32 | 15 Feb 2009 |
| Donnacha | Ryan | Munster | 47 | 22 Nov 2008 |
| Keith | Earls | Munster | 94 | 08 Nov 2008 |
| Shane | Jennings | Leinster | 13 | 02 Jun 2007 |
| Rob | Kearney | Leinster | 95 | 02 Jun 2007 |
| Barry | Murphy | Munster | 4 | 02 Jun 2007 |
| Tony | Buckley | Munster | 25 | 26 May 2007 |
| Brian | Carney | Munster | 4 | 26 May 2007 |
| Tomás | O’Leary | Munster | 24 | 26 May 2007 |
First Capped For Ireland Between 2002 And 2006
| First Name | Last Name | Main Club/Province | Caps | First Cap |
| Stephen | Ferris | Ulster | 35 | 26 Nov 2006 |
| Luke | Fitzgerald | Leinster | 34 | 26 Nov 2006 |
| Jamie | Heaslip | Leinster | 95 | 26 Nov 2006 |
| Paddy | Wallace | Ulster | 30 | 11 Nov 2006 |
| Isaac | Boss | Ulster | 22 | 17 Jun 2006 |
| Bryan | Young | Ulster | 8 | 17 Jun 2006 |
| Eoin | Reddan | Leinster | 71 | 11 Feb 2006 |
| Jerry | Flannery | Munster | 41 | 26 Nov 2005 |
| Andrew | Trimble | Ulster | 70 | 19 Nov 2005 |
| Neil | Best | Ulster | 18 | 12 Nov 2005 |
| Rory | Best | Ulster | 123 | 12 Nov 2005 |
| Kieran | Lewis | Munster | 3 | 19 Jun 2005 |
| Kieran | Campbell | Ulster | 3 | 12 Jun 2005 |
| Trevor | Hogan | Leinster | 14 | 12 Jun 2005 |
| Bernard | Jackman | Leinster | 9 | 12 Jun 2005 |
| Matt | McCullough | Ulster | 4 | 12 Jun 2005 |
| David | Quinlan | Leinster | 2 | 12 Jun 2005 |
| Roger | Wilson | Ulster | 1 | 12 Jun 2005 |
| Tommy | Bowe | Ulster | 69 | 20 Nov 2004 |
| Denis | Leamy | Munster | 57 | 20 Nov 2004 |
| Johnny | O’Connor | Connacht | 12 | 13 Nov 2004 |
| Gavin | Duffy | Connacht | 10 | 19 Jun 2004 |
| Anthony | Horgan | Munster | 7 | 20 Jun 2003 |
| Aidan | McCullen | Leinster | 1 | 20 Jun 2003 |
| Paul | Shields | Ulster | 2 | 20 Jun 2003 |
| Simon | Best | Ulster | 23 | 14 Jun 2003 |
| Mark | McHugh | Ulster | 1 | 14 Jun 2003 |
| Donncha | O’Callaghan | Munster | 94 | 22 Mar 2003 |
| Leo | Cullen | Leinster | 32 | 22 Jun 2002 |
| John | Kelly | Munster | 17 | 23 Mar 2002 |
| Keith | Gleeson | Leinster | 27 | 03 Feb 2002 |
| Paul | O’Connell | Munster | 108 | 03 Feb 2002 |
Capped From August 1996 To 2001
This period marks the beginning of the professional era in Ireland.
| Jeremy | Staunton | Munster | 5 | 11 Nov 2001 |
| Shane | Byrne | Leinster | 41 | 02 Jun 2001 |
| Mick | O’Driscoll | Munster | 23 | 02 Jun 2001 |
| Emmet | Byrne | Leinster | 8 | 03 Feb 2001 |
| Tyrone | Howe | Ulster | 14 | 11 Nov 2000 |
| Gary | Longwell | Ulster | 26 | 11 Nov 2000 |
| Guy | Easterby | Leinster | 28 | 10 Jun 2000 |
| Marcus | Horan | Munster | 67 | 10 Jun 2000 |
| Geordan | Murphy | London Irish | 72 | 10 Jun 2000 |
| Frankie | Sheahan | Munster | 29 | 10 Jun 2000 |
| David | Wallace | Munster | 72 | 10 Jun 2000 |
| Peter | McKenna | Leinster | 1 | 03 Jun 2000 |
| Simon | Easterby | Scarlets | 65 | 19 Feb 2000 |
| John | Hayes | Munster | 105 | 19 Feb 2000 |
| Shane | Horgan | Leinster | 65 | 19 Feb 2000 |
| Ronan | O’Gara | Munster | 128 | 19 Feb 2000 |
| Peter | Stringer | Munster | 98 | 19 Feb 2000 |
| Bob | Casey | Leinster | 7 | 05 Feb 2000 |
| Gordon | D’Arcy | Leinster | 82 | 15 Oct 1999 |
| Angus | McKeen | Leinster | 1 | 15 Oct 1999 |
| Alan | Quinlan | Munster | 27 | 15 Oct 1999 |
| Mike | Mullins | Munster | 16 | 28 Aug 1999 |
| Matt | Mostyn | Connacht | 6 | 12 Jun 1999 |
| Brian | O’Driscoll | Leinster | 133 | 12 Jun 1999 |
| Tom | Tierney | Connacht | 8 | 12 Jun 1999 |
| Girvan | Dempsey | Leinster | 82 | 14 Nov 1998 |
| Pat | Duignan | Connacht | 2 | 14 Nov 1998 |
| Ciaran | Scally | Leinster | 4 | 14 Nov 1998 |
| Justin | Bishop | London Irish | 25 | 13 Jun 1998 |
| Trevor | Brennan | Leinster | 13 | 13 Jun 1998 |
| Justin | Fitzpatrick | Ulster | 26 | 13 Jun 1998 |
| Dion | O’Cuinneagain | Ulster | 19 | 13 Jun 1998 |
| Killian | Keane | Leinster | 1 | 04 Apr 1998 |
| Andy | Ward | Ulster | 28 | 07 Mar 1998 |
| Dylan | O’Grady | Sale | 1 | 20 Dec 1997 |
| Reggie | Corrigan | Leinster | 47 | 30 Nov 1997 |
| Kieron | Dawson | Ulster | 21 | 15 Nov 1997 |
| David | Erskine | Ulster | 15 | 15 Nov 1997 |
| Kevin | Maggs | Ulster | 70 | 15 Nov 1997 |
| Conor | McGuinness | Connacht | 14 | 15 Nov 1997 |
| John | McWeeney | Leinster | 1 | 15 Nov 1997 |
| Kevin | Nowlan | Leinster | 3 | 15 Nov 1997 |
| Malcolm | O’Kelly | Leinster | 92 | 15 Nov 1997 |
| Paul | Flavin | Leinster | 2 | 01 Mar 1997 |
| Brian | O’Meara | Munster | 9 | 15 Feb 1997 |
| Denis | Hickie | Leinster | 62 | 01 Feb 1997 |
| Ross | Nesdale | Newcastle | 13 | 01 Feb 1997 |
| Eric | Miller | Leinster | 48 | 04 Jan 1997 |
| Dominic | Crotty | Munster | 5 | 23 Nov 1996 |
| Stephen | McIvor | Munster | 3 | 23 Nov 1996 |
| Rob | Henderson | Munster | 32 | 12 Nov 1996 |
| James | Topping | Ulster | 8 | 12 Nov 1996 |
First Cap Starting In Amateur Years
These players made their test debut before Irish rugby went professional in August 1996.
Their rugby careers spanned the amateur and professional years.
| Simon | Mason | Ulster | 3 | 02 Mar 1996 |
| David | Humphreys | Ulster | 72 | 17 Feb 1996 |
| Victor | Costello | Leinster | 39 | 06 Jan 1996 |
| Kurt | McQuilkin | Leinster | 5 | 06 Jan 1996 |
| Allen | Clarke | Ulster | 8 | 18 Nov 1995 |
| Jeremy | Davidson | Ulster | 32 | 18 Nov 1995 |
| Henry | Hurley | Leinster | 2 | 18 Nov 1995 |
| Sean | McCahill | Munster | 1 | 18 Nov 1995 |
| Christian | Saverimutto | Leeds Tykes | 3 | 18 Nov 1995 |
| Paul | Wallace | Munster | 45 | 31 May 1995 |
| Darragh | O’Mahony | Saracens | 4 | 06 May 1995 |
| Eddie | Halvey | Munster | 8 | 04 Mar 1995 |
| Davy | Tweed | Ulster | 4 | 04 Mar 1995 |
| Paul | Burke | Munster | 13 | 21 Jan 1995 |
| Anthony | Foley | Munster | 62 | 21 Jan 1995 |
| Niall | Hogan | Leinster | 13 | 21 Jan 1995 |
| Gabriel | Fulcher | London Irish | 20 | 11 Jun 1994 |
| Jonathan | Bell | Ulster | 36 | 05 Jun 1994 |
| David | Corkery | Munster | 27 | 05 Jun 1994 |
| Keith | Wood | Munster | 58 | 05 Jun 1994 |
| Niall | Woods | Leinster | 8 | 05 Jun 1994 |
| Maurice | Field | Ulster | 17 | 19 Feb 1994 |
| Conor | O’Shea | London Irish | 35 | 13 Nov 1993 |
| Eric | Elwood | Connacht | 35 | 06 Mar 1993 |
| Peter | Clohessy | Munster | 54 | 20 Feb 1993 |
| Mark | McCall | Ulster | 13 | 30 May 1992 |
| Richard | Wallace | Munster | 29 | 20 Jul 1991 |
| Jim | Staples | London Irish | 26 | 16 Feb 1991 |
| Mick | Galwey | Munster | 41 | 02 Feb 1991 |
| Simon | Geoghegan | London Irish | 37 | 02 Feb 1991 |
| Paddy | Johns | Leinster | 59 | 27 Oct 1990 |
| Gary | Halpin | Harlequins | 11 | 20 Jan 1990 |
| Nick | Popplewell | Wasps | 48 | 18 Nov 1989 |
| Denis | McBride | Ulster | 32 | 05 Mar 1988 |
| Phil | Danaher | Munster | 28 | 16 Jan 1988 |
| Neil | Francis | Leinster | 36 | 03 Jun 1987 |
| Michael | Bradley | Dolphin | 40 | 10 Nov 1984 |
| Brendan | Mullin | Blackrock College | 56 | 10 Nov 1984 |