# Ireland national rugby union team tours

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 | James Franks | | N/A | N/A |
| 1952 | Chile & Argentina | Des O'Brien | GPS Hogan | Won | 1–1–0 |
| 1961 | South Africa | Ronnie Dawson | Noel Murphy | Lost | 0–1 |
| 1967 | Australia | Tom Kiernan | Eugene Davy | Won | 1–0 |
| 1970 | Argentina | Tom Kiernan | E. Patterson | Lost | 0–2 |
| 1976 | New Zealand & Fiji | 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 | 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 | Phillip Matthews | Ciaran Fitzgerald | Lost | 0–2 |
| 1992 | New Zealand | Phil Danaher | Gerry Murphy | 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 | Keith Wood | Eddie O'Sullivan | Lost | 0–2 |
| 2003 | Australia, Tonga & Samoa | 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 | David Humphreys | Niall O'Donovan | Won | 2–0 |
| 2006 | New Zealand & Australia | Brian O'Driscoll | Eddie O'Sullivan | Lost Lost | 0–2 (New Zealand) 0–1 (Australia) |
| 2007 | Argentina | 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 | Rory Best | Declan Kidney | Won Won | 1–0 (Canada) 1–0 (United States) |
| 2010 | New Zealand & Australia | Brian O'Driscoll | Declan Kidney | Lost | 0–1 (New Zealand) 0–1 (Australia) |
| 2012 | New Zealand | 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 | Paul O'Connell | Joe Schmidt | Won | 2–0 |
| 2016 | South Africa | Rory Best | Joe Schmidt | Lost | 1–2 |
| 2017 | Japan | Rhys Ruddock | Joe Schmidt | Won | 2–0 |
| 2018 | Australia | Rory Best | Joe Schmidt | Won | 2–1 |
| 2022 | New Zealand | Johnny Sexton | Andy Farrell | Won | 2–1 |
| 2024 | South Africa | Peter O'Mahony/ Caelan Doris | Andy Farrell | Drew | 1–1 |

### Tour Statistics

| Flag | Nation or Nations | From | To | Test Matches | Test Matches | Test Matches | Test Matches | Tour Matches | Tour Matches | Tour Matches | Tour Matches | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record |
| Flag | Nation or Nations | From | To | P | W | D | L | P | W | D | L | P | W | D | L | % | PF | PA | PD |
| | 1889 tour of Canada | 12 October | 6 November | - | - | - | - | 11 | 10 | - | 1 | 11 | 10 | - | 1 | 90.91% | 150 | 50 | +100 |
| | 1952 tour of South America Test Series Ireland 1–1–0 Argentina | 1 August | 3 September | - | - | - | - | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 66.67% | 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 | 75% | 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 | 66.67% | 119 | 80 | +39 |
| | 1970 tour of Argentina Test Series Ireland 0–2 Argentina | 30 August | 20 September | - | - | - | - | 7 | 4 | - | 3 | 7 | 4 | - | 3 | 85.71% | 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 | 57.14% | 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 | 87.5% | 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 | 42.86% | 207 | 90 | +117 |
| | 1985 tour of Japan Test Series Ireland 2–0 Japan | 19 May | 2 June | - | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | - | - | 5 | 5 | - | - | 100% | 201 | 66 | +135 |
| | 1988 tour of France Test Series | May | 22 May | - | - | - | - | 4 | 1 | - | 3 | 4 | 1 | - | 3 | 25% | 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 | - | - | 100% | 135 | 52 | +83 |
| | 1991 tour of Namibia Test Series Ireland 0–2 Namibia | 17 June | 27 June | 2 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 4 | 2 | - | 2 | 50% | 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 | 37.5% | 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 | 25% | 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 | 28.57% | 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 | 25% | 103 | 123 | -20 |
| | 2000 Ireland rugby union tour of the Americas 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 | 33.33% | 133 | 64 | +69 |
| | 2002 tour of New Zealand Test Series Ireland 0–2 New Zealand | 8 June | 22 June | 2 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | - | 2 | 33.33% | 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 | 66.67% | 96 | 78 | +18 |
| | 2004 tour of South Africa Test Series Ireland 0–2 South Africa | 12 June | 19 June | 2 | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 2 | 0% | 34 | 57 | -23 |
| | 2005 tour of Japan Test Series Ireland 2–0 Japan | 12 June | 19 June | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | - | - | 100% | 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 | 0% | 55 | 98 | -43 |
| | 2007 tour of Argentina Test Series Ireland 0–2 Argentina | 26 May | 2 June | 2 | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 2 | 0% | 20 | 38 | -18 |
| | 2008 tour of New Zealand and Australia Test Series Ireland 0–1 Australia Ireland 0–1 All Blacks | 7 June | 14 June | 2 | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 2 | 0% | 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 | - | - | 100% | 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 | 0% | 71 | 118 | -47 |
| | 2012 tour of New Zealand Test Series Ireland 0–3 All Blacks | 9 June | 23 June | 3 | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 3 | 0% | 29 | 124 | -47 |
| | 2013 tour of North America Test Series Ireland 1–0 Canada Ireland 1–0 United States | 8 June | 15 June | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | - | - | 100% | 55 | 26 | +29 |
| | 2014 tour of Argentina Test Series Ireland 2–0 Argentina | 7 June | 14 June | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | - | - | 100% | 52 | 34 | +18 |
| | 2016 tour of South Africa Test Series Ireland 1–2 South Africa | 11 June | 25 June | 2 | 1 | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 1 | - | 2 | 33.33% | 65 | 71 | -6 |
| | 2017 tour of Japan Test Series Ireland 2–0 Japan | 17 June | 24 June | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | - | - | 100% | 85 | 35 | +50 |
| | 2018 tour of Australia Test Series Ireland 2–1 Australia | 9 June | 23 June | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 66.67% | 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 | 60% | 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 | 50% | 45 | 51 | -6 |
| Total | 34 Tours | — | — | 58 | 22 | 1 | 37 | 91 | 61 | 2 | 28 | 151 | 82 | 3 | 66 | 54.3% | 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 | 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 | Test Matches | Test Matches | Test Matches | Tour Matches | Tour Matches | Tour Matches | Tour Matches | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record | Total Record |
| Flag | Nation or Nations | From | To | 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 | 85.71% | 219 | 103 | +116 |
| | 1997 Oceania tour | 22 May | 14 June | 1 | - | - | 1 | 6 | 1 | - | 5 | 7 | 1 | - | 6 | 14.29% | 169 | 337 | -168 |
| | 2022 South Africa tour | 30 September | 9 October | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | - | - | 3 | 3 | - | - | 100% | 103 | 45 | +58 |
| Total | 3 Tours | — | — | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 58.82% | 491 | 485 | +6 |