Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)

http://www.irishrugby.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/company/irish-rugby-football-union/

Irish Rugby Football Union, also known as IRFU, is a privately owned entity headquartered in Ireland. Founded in 1879, it employs approximately 320 individuals and reported $110.8M in revenue as of 2025. The organization also functions as a tier 2 media tech buyer. The company's main product area is Spectator Sports, and it serves as the governing body for rugby union on the island of Ireland.

2025 Revenue

Founded

1879

Headcount

348

Headquarters

Ireland

Primary Segment

Spectator Sports

Ownership

Privately Owned

News Summary:

On September 9, 2026, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) invited proposals for a joint venture to develop a €150 million hotel and apartments complex adjacent to the Aviva Stadium on Dublin's Lansdowne Road, aiming to capitalize on the stadium's visitor traffic and local business demand. Previously, on August 26, Munster Rugby's Chief Operating Officer Philip Quinn attributed the province's financial hardship to its inability to produce players worthy of IRFU central contracts, noting that ongoing cost-cutting and staff redundancies were implemented to safeguard investment in player pathway programs. Earlier, on August 20, Vodafone Ireland deepened its relationship with Irish Rugby, becoming the main sponsor of the Ireland Women’s Rugby Team with its branding appearing on the front of the national jersey. This agreement commenced in July and is set to run through 2028, extending a partnership with the IRFU that has evolved over the past decade across both the men’s and women’s games.

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Subscribe for full access to Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s profile

Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) offers 3 products in the sports industry. Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s product portfolio comprises of contact sports and sports tickets, merchandise and sponsorship.

Subscribe for full access to Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s products in full detail

Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s revenues were less than $250M in 2025. Caretta Research has split Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s revenue into 3 different product categories, the largest of which is rugby Union. For full access to Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s revenue breakdown subscribe to Caretta Portal.

Subscribe for full access to Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s revenue in full detail

Sep

15th

2026

01:34

Partnerships and Alliances, B2B Tag, Marketing and Promotional Activities, Partnerships

Dublin Airport Partners with Ireland Women’s Rugby Team

Dublin Airport has become an official sponsor of the Ireland Women’s Rugby Team in a new partnership between DAA and the IRFU that will combine practical travel support with a significant programme of promotional activity. The agreement will see Dublin Airport support the team as it travels to represent Ireland internationally, while also using the airport’s considerable passenger reach, digital channels and physical estate to increase the visibility of the players and women’s rugby.

Sport for Business

Sep

9th

2026

06:30

Business Closure, B2B Tag, Business Closure, Regulatory Compliance

Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland shutters bond desk and IRFU plots Aviva Stadium hotel

It wasn’t that long ago that Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland was the only local firm that was a primary dealer in Irish government bonds. But now it is closing its bond desk , Joe Brennan reports, in a notable move for the Irish financial services sector.

The Irish Times

Sep

9th

2026

04:46

B2B Tag

IRFU Seeks Developer for €150 Million Hotel and Residential Complex Near Aviva Stadium

The Irish Rugby Football Union is inviting proposals for a joint venture to develop a €150 million hotel and apartments complex adjacent to the Aviva Stadium on Dublin's Lansdowne Road. The scheme is intended to capitalize on the stadium's visitor traffic and local business demand.

Head Topics Ireland

Aug

26th

2026

19:57

Financial Results, Cost Cutting, B2B Tag, Cost Cutting, Financial Performance

Munster COO explains how lack of central contracts is hurting province financially

Munster Rugby’s inability to produce players worthy of IRFU central contract players has been pinpointed as one of the main reasons for the province’s financial hardship. Munster’s Chief Operating Officer Philip Quinn told the Irish Examiner that the ongoing cost-cutting programme, which has included a small-scale round of non-rugby staff redundancies, was undertaken to protect investment in the organisation’s player pathway programmes.

Irish Examiner

Aug

20th

2026

05:51

Partnerships and Alliances, B2B Tag, Marketing and Promotional Activities, Partnerships

Vodafone Steps Up to Become Main Sponsor of Ireland Women’s Rugby Team

Vodafone Ireland has deepened its relationship with Irish Rugby by becoming Main Sponsor of the Ireland Women’s Team, with its branding moving to the front of the national jersey for the first time. The agreement began in July and will run through to 2028, extending a partnership with the IRFU that has steadily developed across both the men’s and women’s games over the past decade.

Sport for Business

Aug

14th

2026

06:30

Partnerships and Alliances, B2B Tag, Marketing and Promotional Activities, Partnerships

Vodafone Ireland Becomes Main Sponsor of Ireland Women’s Rugby Team

Vodafone Ireland has been announced as the new main sponsor of the Ireland Women’s Rugby Team in an agreement that will see the company’s branding appear on the front of the team’s jersey for the first time.

AdWorld

Aug

11th

2026

07:10

Partnerships and Alliances, B2B Tag, Marketing and Promotional Activities, Partnerships

Vodafone becomes main shirt sponsor of Ireland women's rugby team

Vodafone is set to become the main sponsor of the Ireland women's rugby team after expanding its decade-long partnership with the IRFU. The telecommunications group has been the main shirt sponsor for men's team since 2016 and will now feature on the front of the women's team's shirts for the first time.

Business Plus

Jul

31st

2026

02:56

ESG, B2B Tag, Marketing and Promotional Activities

IRFU Turns to Property, Data and Digital as Revenue Strategy Evolves

The IRFU is looking to property development at Lansdowne Road and new income from data and digital to strengthen the long-term financial foundations of Irish rugby. The direction is set out in the Union’s 2025/26 Annual Report, which presents a picture of strong demand for international rugby, an expanding sponsorship portfolio and growing broadcast audiences, but also acknowledges the increasing cost of maintaining six professional teams while investing further in women’s and grassroots rugby.

Sport for Business

Jul

8th

2026

01:00

B2B Tag

IRFU may get more involved in coaching recruitment after Munster’s Randle controversy

The Irish Rugby Football Union could become more involved in the recruitment of positions within the wider coaching set up following Munster’s controversial botched appointment of Roger Randle . The former All Blacks winger was announced in mid-May to be linking up with his old boss at the Chiefs, Clayton McMillan, at Munster on a two-year deal as a replacement for Mike Prendergast.

Irish Examiner

Jul

7th

2026

18:35

B2B Tag

Leinster and the rest: Irish rugby chief David Humphreys on the game's key issues

IRFU performance director David Humphreys is in Sydney with Andy Farrell’s senior men’s side, and he sat down for a rare, in-depth Q&A, with the travelling media before returning home in the coming days. Humphreys’ takes on the Roger Randle controversy and resultant fallout at Munster, as well the possibility of Ronan O’Gara returning to coach in Ireland, are detailed elsewhere on this site.

Irish Examiner

Jul

1st

2026

02:58

Management Changes, B2B Tag

Irish Rugby Names Four Provincial Leads for Women’s Game

Irish Rugby has announced the appointment of four full-time provincial Women’s Rugby leadership roles in a landmark step in the continued development and professionalisation of the women’s game across Ireland. Larissa Muldoon has been appointed in Connacht, Derek Maybury in Leinster, Niamh Briggs in Munster, and Neill Alcorn in Ulster.

Sport for Business

Jun

30th

2026

03:26

B2B Tag

Larissa Muldoon appointed Connacht Women's Rugby Lead | 30th June 2026 | News

Connacht Rugby and the IRFU are delighted to announce the appointment of Larissa Muldoon as the new Connacht Women’s Rugby Lead. Muldoon is a familiar face to those involved in women’s rugby in Connacht. Following a stellar playing career, she moved into full-time coaching in 2023 by becoming the Connacht representative in the IRFU’s Women’s National Talent Squad (WNTS) pathway staff, working to help develop Connacht’s elite young talent.

Connacht Rugby

Examples of Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s suppliers include STATSports, Ericsson and Blinkfire.

Example Suppliers

Subscribe for full access to Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s profile

Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) sells broadcasting rights of its rugby Union competitions to 7 companies globally, covering 3 countries. Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s rights holders include BBC.