Andy Farrell’s Ireland will be keen to break their cycle of eight quarter-finals without reaching a semi-final at Australia 2027.

Generations have tried but Ireland are yet to shake their Men’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final hoodoo. They have reached the last eight on no fewer than eight occasions but have never gone any further. Their best chances to advance to the semis came in 1991, 2015 and 2023, before Australia, Argentina and New Zealand took turns to break Irish hearts.

Andy Farrell’s side will be targeting top spot in Pool D. They have emphatic winning records over Uruguay and Portugal, and have had the upper hand over Scotland since the turn of the century. 

At their best, Ireland play with relentless tempo, secure quick ruck ball and can unleash multiple ball-carrying threats. But an ageing core, scrummaging issues and that quarter-final hump are the concerns.

Players to watch 

Stuart McCloskey 

The big Ulster centre made his test debut in 2016 but took another seven years to establish himself in the Ireland backline. He was part of the 2023 Grand Slam-winning squad, starting three games, and he excelled in the 2026 Men's Six Nations, starting all five games of Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning campaign. He made three try-saving tackles, six try-assists and was nominated for Player of the Tournament. 

Joe McCarthy

Second-row McCarthy made his debut for Leinster, Ireland A and the senior Ireland side all in the same year, 2022. Stretching the tape to 1.98m, the former Blackrock College schoolboy star was fast-tracked into the squad. Won a Six Nations title in 2024, at his first attempt, and was named in the British and Irish Lions squad the following year, starting the first test before injury intervened. 

Josh van der Flier 

The Wicklow native made his Ireland debut in February 2016 and won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2018 and 2023. In a quite remarkable 2022, he took home awards for Irish, Champions Cup and World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year. A model of consistency for Leinster and Ireland, Van der Flier made the British and Irish Lions squad for the first time in 2025. 

RWC icon

Until 2011, Ireland enjoyed very few Rugby World Cup highlights. But Johnny Sexton was Ireland’s starting fly-half for their three biggest victories – against Australia (2011), France (2015) and South Africa (2023).

He featured in four tournaments for his country, scoring a record 102 points. Captained Ireland and, ultimately, bowed out at Rugby World Cup 2023.

RWC cult hero

Gordon Hamilton’s first and only try for Ireland at RWC 1991 is still fondly regarded, but it could have gone down as an all-time great and altered rugby history. 

The flanker raced over for a superb score that put his side 18-15 ahead in their quarter-final against Australia in Dublin with six minutes left on the clock. 

Ireland were on the brink of a home semi-final, until Michael Lynagh sucked the life out of Lansdowne Road with a late try in the corner. The Wallabies went on to beat England in the final.

Head coach 

Andy Farrell was a talented, hardy rugby league and union player, who represented England in both codes. He coached at Saracens before becoming Stuart Lancaster’s assistant with England. 

He was then named Ireland defence coach in 2016, eventually taking over as head coach from Joe Schmidt after Rugby World Cup 2019. He led Ireland to back-to-back Six Nations titles, including a 2023 Grand Slam, and was also head coach of the 2025 British and Irish Lions.

Most memorable match 

At RWC 2015, Ireland beat France in a hard-fought pool encounter at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, packed to the rafters with green-clad supporters. Sean O’Brien was at his collision-dominating best, while Rob Kearney and Conor Murray capped off great performances with vital tries. 

But Ireland’s 24-9 victory came at a cost. They lost Johnny Sexton, Paul O’Connell and Peter O’Mahony to injury, and O’Brien was suspended for a quarter-final they would lose 43-20 to Argentina at the same venue.

Pool journey

4 October, 2027 v Portugal (Sydney | Gadigal)
10 October v Scotland (Perth | Boorloo)
17 October v Uruguay (Melbourne | Narrm)

Did you know...? 

The population of the island of Ireland is approximately 7.1 million, but the Irish diaspora is estimated to be in the region of 80 million. 

That means that around 80 million people worldwide claim to be of Irish descent. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, an American politician whose grandfather hailed from County Kerry, once claimed: “To be Irish is to know that, in the end, the world will break your heart.” 

When it comes to Men’s Rugby World Cups, he may have been on to something.

RWC history

Key stat

Ireland are one of three sides to have recorded zero missed tackles in a Men’s Rugby World Cup match, making 53/53 against Italy in the 2011 pool stage (the other two sides are New Zealand, against Italy at RWC 1987, and Australia against Canada at RWC 2007).

RWC Fast facts

• RWC debut: 1987
• RWC best finish: Quarter-finals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023) 
• Most RWC appearances: Conor Murray (18) 
• Top RWC try scorer: Keith Earls (8)
• Top RWC points scorer: Johnny Sexton (102)