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History of rugby union matches between France and Ireland

Since 1909, France and Ireland have played each other in a total of 105 test matches, with France winning 61 times, Ireland winning 37 times and seven matches drawn.

Apart from fixtures played in the Five Nations / Six Nations Championship competitions, four games have been played at the Rugby World Cup in 1995, 2003, 2007 and 2015, in which France were victorious in the first three and Ireland in the last one in 2015. The sides have also met on four other occasions outside the Five Nations / Six Nations Championship: in 1909 (the first match between the two teams), a one-off match in 1972 and two Rugby World Cup warm-up matches in 2011.

Ireland have had a notoriously poor record in France since the end of the Second World War, only winning there thrice between 1945 and 2000 (in 1948, 1952 and 1972), and only four times since 2000. In recent years, France have found wins in Dublin almost as difficult; it is one of the Six Nations fixtures with the most distinctive records of home advantage winning out.

As of 2026, the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship matches between France and Ireland in both the men's and women's versions will be awarded a rivalry trophy, the Solidarity Trophy/Tropheé Solidaritaire. France are the current holders of the men's trophy having won the inaugural edition of the new competition 36–14 in Paris.

Breakdown

In the World Cup, the teams have played each other on four occasions, 1995, 2003, 2007 and 2015, with France winning on 3 occasions and Ireland winning once; there have been no draws. In these games, France have scored 113 points, and Ireland 60.

In the Five Nations (1910–1931 and 1947–1999), Ireland played France on 70 occasions, Ireland winning 23, France 42 and five matches have been drawn.

In the Six Nations (2000–present), Ireland have played France on 27 occasions, Ireland winning 11, France 14 and two matches have been drawn.

In other test matches, Ireland have played France on four other occasions, in 1909, 1972 and twice in 2011, with two wins apiece.

Summary

<small>Note: Summary below reflects test results by both teams.</small>

Overview

Records

<small>Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.</small>

Attendance

<small>Up to date as of 14 February 2026.</small>

Results

Results by Decade

XV Results

Below is a list of matches that France has awarded matches test match status by virtue of awarding caps, but Ireland did not award caps.

Gallery

Notes

References