The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is the body managing Rugby football in Ireland. The IRFU has grounds at Lansdowne Road, where Irish rugby international matches are played.
The IRFU was formed in 1879 as an amalgamation of the Irish Football Union and the Northern Football Union of Ireland.
Following the political break up of Ireland into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the IRFU remained as one Union representing all of Ireland. This lead to the unique situation among international rugby teams, where the Irish representative teams are drawn from players from two countries Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom (which Northern Ireland is part of).