 Unlike soccer , Ireland continues to field a single national rugby team and a single association , the Irish Rugby Football Union ( IRFU ) , governs the sport across the island . The Irish rugby team have played in every Rugby World Cup , making the quarter @-@ finals in four of them . Ireland also hosted games during the 1991 and the 1999 Rugby World Cups ( including a quarter @-@ final ) . There are four professional Irish teams ; all four play in the Magners League ( now called the RaboDirect Pro12 ) and at least three compete for the Heineken Cup . Irish rugby has become increasingly competitive at both the international and provincial levels since the sport went professional in 1994 . During that time , Ulster ( 1999 ) , Munster ( 2006 and 2008 ) and Leinster ( 2009 , 2011 and 2012 ) have won the Heineken Cup . In addition to this , the Irish International side has had increased success in the Six Nations Championship against the other European elite sides . This success , including Triple Crowns in 2004 , 2006 and 2007 , culminated with a clean sweep of victories , known as a Grand Slam , in 2009 . 
 Unlike soccer , Ireland <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>continues</mark></a> to field a single national rugby team and a single association , the Irish Rugby Football Union ( IRFU ) , <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>governs</mark></a> the sport across the island . The Irish rugby team <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> played in every Rugby World Cup , making the quarter @-@ finals in four of them . Ireland also hosted games during the 1991 and the 1999 Rugby World Cups ( including a quarter @-@ final ) . <a href='dey_it' title='4'><mark>There</mark></a> are four professional Irish teams ; all four play in the Magners League ( now called the RaboDirect Pro12 ) and at least three compete for the Heineken Cup . Irish rugby <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>has</mark></a> become increasingly competitive at both the international and provincial levels since the sport went professional in 1994 . During that time , Ulster ( 1999 ) , Munster ( 2006 and 2008 ) and Leinster ( 2009 , 2011 and 2012 ) <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>have</mark></a> won the Heineken Cup . In addition to this , the Irish International side <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>has</mark></a> <a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>had</mark></a> increased success in the Six Nations Championship against the other European elite sides . This success , including Triple Crowns in 2004 , 2006 and 2007 , culminated with a clean sweep of victories , known as a Grand Slam , in 2009 . 
Unlike soccer , Ireland continue to field a single national rugby team and a single association , the Irish Rugby Football Union ( IRFU ) , govern the sport across da island . TdaIrish rugby team done played in every Rugby World Cup , making thdauarter @-@ finals in four of em . Ireland also hosted games during theda91 and the da9 Rugby World Cups ( including a quarter @-@ final ) . It is four professional Irish teams ; alll four play in the Magners League ( now called the RdaDirect Pro12 ) and at least three compete fa the Heineken Cup . Irish rugby done become increasingly competitive at both the international and provincial levels since the sport went professional in 1994 . durin that time , Ulster ( 1999 ) , Munster ( 2006 and 2008 ) and Leinster ( 2009 , 2011 and 2012 ) done won the Hedaken Cup . In addition to dis , the Irish International side done done increased success in the Six Nations Championship against the other European elite sides . Tdissuccess , including Triple Crowns in 2004 , 2006 and 2007 , culminated with a clean sweep of victories , known as a Grand Slam , in 2009 .