The World Cup Centurions: Ireland

The 2023 Rugby World Cup is only a few days away.

And while there is plenty of young and hungry talent going into this years edition looking to prove themselves and create their own legacies, we at Ultimate Rugby have decided to honour the veterans of the this years competition who go into the tournament boasting 100 international test rugby appearances.

There are over 90 current and former players who make up this elite club, originating from 14 different countries, with eight of those conutries being represented in this world cup. 

The fighting Irish are well known for their extremely physical and tactical style of rugby, that has seen the proud rugby nation birth 9 test centurions, four of whom are still active with three being included in this years world cup squad. 

It is worth noting however, that veteran prop Cian Healy and currently the most capped active player, will miss the world cup after sustaining an injury of Irelands last World Cup warm-up fixture against Samoa.

Keith Earls 

Munster wing Keith Earls became the latest Irishman to achieve a century of test rugby games on August 19 of this year against England. 

The 35-year-old went more than a year without an international appearance amid fitness problems before being recalled by head coach Andy Farrell for the 33-17 win over Italy on August 5.

Earls was born in Moyross, a council estate in Limerick, to Ger and Sandra Earls. He has one younger sister. Ger was well-known in Limerick for his playing exploits with Thomond and Young Munster, winning the 1992–93 All-Ireland League with the latter, and for being part of the Munster team that beat then-defending World Champions Australia in 1992.

Earls made his Munster debut against Ospreys in April 2007 before making his debut for Ireland in November the following year against Canada in Thomond Park scoring his first international try with his first touch of the ball.

Earls was selected in Ireland's squad for the 2009 November Tests. He came on for the injured Luke Fitzgerald against Australia and started against Fiji, a game in which he scored two tries, and South Africa.[

During the 2007–08 season, Earls was part of the Munster squad that beat Toulouse in the 2008 Heineken Cup Final.

On 21 April 2009, Earls was selected as part of the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He made his Lions debut on 30 May 2009, in a nervy, error-strewn performance against a South African Royal XV. Currently Earls has 100 caps. 

Johnny Sexton

Not enough can be said about Irish captain Johnathon Sexton. Sexton made his 100th appearance against Japan in 2021, in a match that also saw him scoring a try on the momentous occasion.

Sexton was born in Rathgar, Dublin, but has family ties to North Kerry and West Clare; he is a nephew of former Garryowen, Munster and Ireland rugby player William Sexton.

In his formative years, Sexton played mini rugby with Bective Rangers in Donnybrook, Dublin, the club of his father who is a long standing member.

His Leinster career began in 2005-06 season playing only one game, as a result of his performances for St. Mary's. He came on as a substitute against the Border Reivers.

Sexton played three games in the 2006–07 season. Although he only played 12 minutes against Ospreys, he scored a conversion

Rumours began to circulate midway through the 2012–13 season that Sexton had agreed to join Racing 92 in Paris at the end of the season for a salary reported in the region of 750,000 euros per annum, making him one of the highest-paid players in the world.

The fly-half was selected as part of the Ireland squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship, but sustained a fractured thumb shortly beforehand whilst playing for Leinster. 

Sexton won his first cap for Ireland in the test against Fiji at the RDS in Dublin on 21 November 2009 scoring 16 points (five conversions and two penalty goals), kicking seven from seven in extremely difficult weather conditions and winning man of the match with his impressive international debut.

As a result of his performances for club and country, Sexton was selected to play for the 2013 British & Irish Lions in their tour to Australia. He played in all three of the tests, scoring one try. Currently Sexton has 119 caps (113-Ireland, 6-British & Irish Lions). 

Conor Murray

There is rarely a bigger name right now in Irish Rugby than the scrum-half magician Conor Murray. The field general his 100th appearance against South Africa in 2022, a match that saw the Irish emerge as victors.

Murray was born in Limerick, Ireland, where he attended St. Munchin's College and was part of the same Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup squad as current Munster and Ireland colleague Keith Earls

Making his competitive debut for Munster against Connacht in the Celtic League on 18 April 2010, Murray came on as a blood replacement. He formed part of the Munster A team that lost the final of the 2009–10 British and Irish Cup to Cornish Pirates on 16 May 2010.

Murray signed a new three-year contract with Munster and the IRFU in January 2016. On 24 September 2016, Murray scored two tries in Munster's 28–14 win against Edinburgh.

On 6 May 2017, Murray made his return from the injury he sustained during the 2017 Six Nations when he came off the bench in Munster's 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Connacht.

Murray was selected in Ireland's training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-ups in August. He made his Ireland debut against France as a substitute on 13 August 2011.

His second cap came two weeks later against England, again as a substitute.[63] He was also selected in Ireland's final 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.

Murray's first start, and third cap, came against the United States in Ireland's opening Pool C match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Murray was selected as one of three scrum-halves in the squad for 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, named on 30 April 2013.

He came on as a substitute in the opening fixture of the tour against the Barbarians on 1 June 2013. Murray started in the Lions 69–17 victory against Western Force on 5 June 2013.