Brothers in Arms. Irish Internationals of the Past, Present (2024) and Future

ionadnapokot

Glut of talented young brothers in the Irish system.

e.g. Cian and Sam Prendergast, Jamie and Andrew Osborne, Joe and Paddy McCarthy, Edwin and Sean Edogbo

Fiji v Ireland - Buckhurst Park, Suva, 20th June, 2026 (50th Anniversary of the 1976 tour)

Keenan; A. Osborne, Ringrose, J.Osborne, Hansen; S. Prendergast, N. Doak, P. McCarthy, Sheehan, C. Doak; E. Edogbo, J. McCarthy; C. Prendergast, Doris, S. Edogbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121819133/#Comment_121819133

I think Niall and Rory Scannell were the last brothers to play on the same Irish team (v Japan 2017).

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2017/06/21/scannells-join-irish-rugbys-growing-band-of-brothers/

Rob and Dave Kearney being the brothers who have the most caps together for Ireland.

56 pairs of brothers have played for Ireland at the highest level of the game. Indeed, the IRFU have capped more brothers than any other tier 1 nation.

In 1886, three Ross brothers, Dan, John and Joseph, were three quarters who played for Ireland at Raeburn Place against Scotland in a very heavy defeat. Centre John was the Ireland captain, and won his fifth cap like his brother Dan, but Joseph won his only cap as a late call-up in a team severely weakened by no less than ten changes from its original selection.

Jamie Osborne

16 November 2001 (age 22)

Position 12, 13, and has played 11 and 15.

Potential: Certainty to get an Irish cap this year.

Andrew Osborne

16/08/2003 (age 21)

Position 14.

Potential: Decent potential. Not sure if he’ll make the jump to international.

13 other Osbornes

Joe McCarthy

26/03/2001 (age 22)

Position 5.

Potential: 8 Caps. A star in the making. I think he's a star already!

Paddy McCarthy

28/05/2003 (age 20)

Position 1. has played 3.

Potential: High probability of getting an Irish cap in a few years.

Nathan Doak

17/12/2001 (age 22)

Position 9.

Potential: Certainty to get an Irish cap over the next year or two. Gone backwards this year just like Ulster. I thought he would be a 50+ capper. Lots of room for improvement.

Cameron Doak

17/12/2003 (age 20)

Position 3.

Potential: No idea

Cian Prendergast

23/02/2000 (age 24)

Position 6. and 8.

Potential: 3 Caps. Certainty to get more caps over the next few years. Stiff competition.

Sam Prendergast

12/02/2003 (age 21)

Position 10.

Potential: High probability of getting an Irish cap next year, or the year after. Room for improvement.

Fineen Wycherley

11/12/1997 (age 26)

Position 6. Has played 4.

Potential: 1 Cap. Not sure if he’ll get another. Stiff competition at Munster.

Josh Wycherley

22/07/1999 (age 24)

Position 1.

Potential: Not sure if he can make the jump to an international.

Edwin Edogbo

21/12/2002 (age 21)

Position 5.

Potential: High potential. Thought he could tour SA this year before his second achilles. Long way back to full fitness. To play lock for Ireland will require a big leap.

Sean Edogbo

08/05/2004 (age 19)

Position 8 and 6.

Potential: Good potential. Log jam at Munster e.g. Gleeson a certainty to get capped in the next year or two.

Matthew Devine

19/02/2002 (age 22)

Position 9.

Potential: Don’t know

John Devine

26/12/2003 (age 20)

Position 12.

Potential: Don’t know

Ben Murphy

23/04/2001 (age 22)

Position 9.

Backup provincial player

Jack Murphy

15/07/2004 (age 19)

Position 10.

Potential: Superb OTT. Might follow Dad to Ulster.

Ross Byrne

08/04/1995 (age 28)

Position 10.

22 Caps. Certainty to get more caps over the next few years. Stiff competition at Leinster and Ireland might see his international chances fade away.

Harry Byrne

22/04/1999 (age 24)

Position 10.

3 Caps. Certainty to get more caps over the next few years. High injury rate & stiff competition at Leinster.

Any more?

edit

David Hawkshaw 

03/07/1999 (age 24)

Position 10. & .12

Potential: Former U-20 captain and Good provincial player.

Daniel Hawkshaw 

25/02/2002 (age 22)

Position .12

Potential: Dont know. Connacht have allot of young 12s!

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

Joe and Paddy McCarthy.

David Wallace (72 Caps), Richard Wallace (29 Caps) & Paul Wallace (76 Caps). Paul & David also had 3 Lions caps each.

Rory Best (124 caps) and Simon Best (23 caps)

EDIT: Thought you were asking for past caps also

ionadnapokot

Its a pity the 3 Wallace brothers didn't get to play together.

I think those 3 Ross brothers (1886) are the only trio to play on the same side.

Both of the Bests captained Ireland. That might also be unique.