▁from ▁the ▁R LI F ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁It ▁is ▁recogn ised ▁within ▁the ▁Irish ▁Sports ▁Council ▁and ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁running ▁of ▁the ▁international ▁team ▁entirely ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁for ▁the ▁World ▁Cup . ▁ ▁History ▁Modern - day ▁rugby ▁league ▁in ▁Ireland ▁began ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁when ▁Brian ▁Cor rig an ▁founded ▁the ▁Dublin ▁Blues , ▁consisting ▁mostly ▁of ▁rugby ▁union ▁players ▁who ▁wanted ▁to ▁stay ▁fit ▁over ▁the ▁summer . ▁The ▁Blues ▁competed ▁against ▁tour ing ▁teams ▁from ▁Britain ▁and ▁surprised ▁many ▁of ▁the ▁tour ing ▁sides ▁with ▁the ▁quality ▁of ▁their ▁play , ▁scoring ▁many ▁memor able ▁vict ories ▁over ▁British ▁amateur ▁opposition . ▁ ▁In ▁early ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁the ▁British ▁Rugby ▁Football ▁League ▁development ▁arm ▁fin anced ▁the ▁position ▁of ▁a ▁Development ▁Officer ▁for ▁Ireland , ▁providing ▁a ▁massive ▁boost ▁to ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁the ▁game . ▁In ▁the ▁same ▁year ▁Ireland ▁formed ▁its ▁very ▁first ▁compet itive ▁team ▁to ▁play ▁against ▁the ▁USA ▁in ▁Washington ▁DC ▁on ▁St . ▁Patrick ' s ▁Day . ▁Ireland ▁won ▁ 2 4 – 2 2 . ▁ ▁A ▁strong ▁student ' s ▁framework ▁was ▁also ▁established ▁with ▁teams ▁representing ▁Ireland ▁at ▁the ▁Student ' s ▁Rugby ▁League ▁World ▁Cup ▁in ▁Australia ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁and ▁the ▁UK ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁compr ising ▁Ireland ▁based ▁and ▁UK ▁based ▁players . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁the ▁tournament ▁was ▁based ▁in ▁W