Fifty or More Caps Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Unlike football (soccer) the Irish rugby union team is made up of players from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, so referring to the team as just 'Ireland' is correct.

Brian O'Driscoll played for the Irish national team on 133 occasions between 1999 and 2014. He also played in four British and Irish Lions tours, a rare event as only three players had achieved this before him. O'Driscoll played as an outside centre and was also the long-term captain of Ireland, between 2003 and 2012. Anthony Foley was a forward, playing as a number 8 or flanker for Ireland on 62 occasions between 1995 and 2005.

Gordon D'Arcy played for Ireland between 1995 and 2015, winning 82 caps. As an inside centre, he regularly partnered Brian O'Driscoll in the midfield and their 45th appearance together for Ireland set a record for a centre partnership at the time. Johnny Sexton played for Ireland between 2009 and 2023, earning 118 caps in the process. he played as a fly-half, the man who often (not always) is responsible for kicking for goal, from penalties or to convert a try. Sexton was very successful in this role.

Peter Stringer was a scrum half and has 98 Irish caps to his name. He played for his country from 2000 until 2011, often partnering Ronan O'Gara. Denis Hickie, who has 62 caps, was a winger, one of the two players who have positions furthest from the centre of the field. Hickie played for Ireland between 1997 and 2007.

Ronan O'Gara has already been mentioned and has an outstanding record as a fly-half, with 128 international appearances to his name. He played for Ireland between 2000 and 2013 and has since worked as a coach. As a lock, one of two who play in the second row of the scrum and are usually the targets for the ball at line-outs, Paul O'Connell played for Ireland on 108 occasions. His international career lasted from 2002 to 2015, during which time he regularly captained the team.

Often playing alongside O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan was also a lock, playing for Ireland from 2003 until 2013. During this time he amassed 94 caps. Girvan Dempsey played as a fullback, often the last line of defence, and was capped for his country on 82 occasions. His career with Ireland lasted from 1998 until 2008.

Keith Earls played for Ireland primarily as a winger, although he could also fill in at centre and and fullback. He played 101 international matches for Ireland between 2008 and 2023. The final player included in the selection, Rory Best, played as a hooker, the player in the middle of the front row of a scrum tasked with securing the ball for the team. Best finished with 124 caps in an international career lasting from 2005 until 2019.

The incorrect answers are also Irish sportsmen, but in different sports. Padraig Harrington is a major-winning golfer whose victories include the Open in both 2007 and 2008 and also the PGA Championship in 2008. Barry McGuigan was a boxer, fighting at featherweight. He won 32 out of 35 of his fights.

Liam Brady excelled at football (soccer) in a career lasting from 1973 until 1990. He represented the Republic of Ireland on 72 occasions. Stephen Roche was a road cyclist between 1981 and 1993 during which time he won the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia.

The other two rode horses, although in different sports. Eddie Macken was a show jumper, with most of his success coming in the 1970s with his horse named Boomerang. Pat Eddery was a jockey, in flat races. He finished as champion jockey on eleven occasions and rode three winners in the Derby among fourteen wins in total in the five Classic races in England.