The Irish Athletes Alliance wishes to place on the record our admiration for the former soccer players and commend their courage in bringing forward testimonies regarding allegations of inappropriate behaviour by named individuals which have been documented by the Sunday Independent and RTÉ. By speaking out you have ensured, as you said in your own words, that your “pain will be the next generation’s gain”. We are committed to ensuring that the experiences endured by these women never occur again in Irish sport. We also encourage any players affected by these, or other negative behaviours in t ..read more

Last week we were delighted to join our friends at Rugby League Cares as they embarked on their Wild Atlantic Cycle Challenge. The official charity for Rugby League in the UK, RL Cares has raised over £70,000 in recent years to aid health and wellbeing programmes for people of all ages where the sport is played.  Represented by Paul Marshall, Niall Woods, Simon Keogh and Aaron Buggle, Rugby Players Ireland’s participation in the cycle this year underscored a shared commitment to prioritising player wellbeing in both rugby codes. It also builds on a strong pre-existing relationship with RL ..read more

Rugby League Cares It was with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Rob Burrow in early June. Last year, several of our members met his great friend Kevin Sinfield as he closed out an epic seven day ultra marathon challenge in Dublin to raise awareness and funds to support those impacted by motor neurone disease (MND). Relationships between the two codes have developed in recent years. This month, Rugby Players Ireland welcomed our colleagues from Rugby League Cares as they embarked on a 300mile charity cycle along the Wild Atlantic Way. RL Cares has been delivering world class level ..read more

World Rugby and Rugby Players Ireland have launched a new Brain Health Service to support former elite players who have concerns about their brain health.  Ireland is the first country in the world to launch the new initiative which is available free of charge.   The first of its kind, the service includes an awareness and education component, an online questionnaire and tele-health delivered cognitive assessment with a trained brain health practitioner.  This service assesses players for any brain health warning signs, provide advice on managing risk factors and signpost a ..read more

Rugby Players Ireland Awards 2024 Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher Our congratulations to all our winners on what was another memorable night for the players’ association. With up to 700 guests in attendance, former players Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble led proceedings with their customary charm and wit. In addition to the award winners, former Rugby Players Ireland Chairperson Johnny Sexton‘s career was celebrated with a dedicated segment to the recently retired former Irish Rugby captain. He was presented with a Shane Monahan commissioned piece by current Chair, Peter O’Mahony.  &n ..read more

Current and former rugby players from around the world have come together to launch a new charity, the Global Rugby Players Foundation. Ten founding members, including some of the most famous names in the sport such as Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson, Rachael Burford and Siya Kolisi, supported by both World Rugby and International Rugby Players, have established the new independent organisation. Former Wallabies captain George Gregan will Chair the new charity board of trustees which has appointed Sara Heath as its Chief Executive Officer. The Global Rugby Players Foundation exists to empower rugb ..read more

Following a fine campaign, Connacht and Ireland’s Bundee Aki was this evening named as the BDO Ireland Men’s XVs Players’ Players of the Year 2024 by his fellow players at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards. Nominated for both World Rugby Player of the Year and Six Nations Player of the Championship, Aki was always going be strong contender for the award despite the presence of Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan in the shortlist. A fan favourite, Aki hit new heights this season in the Irish midfield, helping Ireland to their second Six Nations title in as many years. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Da ..read more

Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan have been announced as nominees for the prestigious BDO Ireland Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year Award for 2024. Set to be hosted by former players Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble, the Rugby Players Ireland Awards celebrates the on and off the field achievements of Rugby Players Ireland’s members and will take place on May 22nd at The Clayton Hotel on the Burlington Road in Ballsbridge.   Nominated for the second year in succession, Sheehan once again cast his ominous presence over a Six Nations winning campaign as he finished as the Ch ..read more

Place Secured at WRWC 2025! Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady Our congratulations to all involved in Ireland’s Women’s Six Nations campaign. By virtue of their third-place finish, the side have simultaneously qualified for the Rugby World Cup in England next year and will also feature in WXV1 which will take place in Canada later this year.  Ireland came from behind twice against an in-form Scottish side before a Dannah O’Brien penalty in the 73rd minute sealed their fate. The result was particularly impressive given the heavy loss suffered at the hands of the English the week before. M ..read more

Perhaps the most likely explanation for Keith Earls’ popularity is contained in that familiar saying about the difficulty of keeping good men down. To some, rugby might not be seen as a universal sport, but the Limerick man’s appeal transcends all divides. As he stole over for that iconic try on the occasion of his 100th Irish cap at the Aviva Stadium last summer, it certainly seemed like an entire nation applauded in unison. The result of the game was a mere footnote. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan Next month Earls will be honoured at the 2024 Rugby Players Ireland Awards as he collec ..read more