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Quiz: Have you been paying attention to caps in Irish rugby?

The little number next to every player on the team-sheet tells a story, but do you know them by heart?

LAST UPDATE | 16 May 2020

CAPS, IN ALL sports we celebrate them and mark the most significant of them. In rugby, they are a commodity that can not be traded, an internationally-recognised symbol of quality and fortitude.

Seeing the numbers stacked up can lead us to acclaim when it brings proof of our belief, or to feel time passing all the quicker when the figure is higher than we imagine. Sometimes we even feel sympathy when the number is far below what the quality of the player deserved.

But how much attention to we really pay to caps, their numbers and the occasions celebrated around them?

Only a few breath the rarefied air of the centurion. Which of these men has hit 100 caps for Ireland?
Peter Stringer
Jamie Heaslip

John Hayes
Rob Kearney
Who is the only player of this quartet to earn a cap in the Five Nations?
Brian O'Driscoll
Girvan Dempsey

Ronan O'Gara
Gordon D'Arcy
At what venue did Jonathan Sexton earn his very first international cap?
The RDS
Croke Park

Aviva Stadium
Lansdowne Road
Which of these players did not score a try on their Test debut?
Paul O'Connell
CJ Stander

Jacob Stockdale
Craig Gilroy
Caps can be hard to come by. Which one of these invaluable provincial warhorses has been capped by Ireland?
James Coughlan
Denis Buckley

Stephen Keogh
Roger Wilson
Jacob Stockdale has 16 Test tries, but how many caps has he?
16
22

25
28
Which of these men has won more starts for Ireland?
Stuart McCloskey
John Cooney

Ross Byrne
Ultan Dillane
Last year Sean Cronin was given an overdue first full cap in the Six Nations. How many caps does the powerful hooker have in total?
42
52

62
72
Which team has James Ryan played for more?
Ireland
Leinster
Jonny Wilkinson has 91 caps for England, who passed that marker for Ireland at Twickenham this year?
Keith Earls
Jonathan Sexton

Conor Murray
Rob Kearney
Answer all the questions to see your result!
You scored out of !
Caps off to ya
Congrats on the first cap, there's plenty more to come!
Share your result:
You scored out of !
Cap-tain Planet
A fine effort at the top level, you were probably unfortunate not to hit the century.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
Cappa tracksuit
You didn't want for enthusiasm, but injury kept your cap tally on the low side.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
Slow hand-cap
Keep that cap safe, you may not see another.
Share your result:

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28 Comments
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    Mute Mary Lou’s mole
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    May 16th 2020, 9:49 AM

    That’s is a tough quiz with some very good questions.

    It’s mad how Munster haven’t won a trophy in over 10 years.

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    Mute Patrick O Connell
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    May 16th 2020, 10:52 AM

    @Mary Lou’s mole: it took Leinster 14 years to win there first cup

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    Mute Munsterman
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    May 16th 2020, 12:07 PM

    @Mary Lou’s mole: it’s mad how many Leinster people are obsessed with Munster on here.

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    Mute Seaniecp
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    May 16th 2020, 12:51 PM

    @Munsterman: that’s a compliment really. She wouldnt find it mad if they werent a team with a great history. No need to be offended all the time

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    Mute Cian Nolan
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    May 16th 2020, 1:47 PM

    @Patrick O Connell: in the pro era, 2001 Celtic league final ring a bell?

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    Mute Sean Fahey
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    May 16th 2020, 6:57 PM

    @Patrick O Connell: The first ever interprovincial match was between Leinster and Ulster in 1875, pre dating the existence of Munster rugby and the founding of the provinces by 4 years. Leinster were the first province to play knock out European rugby. Leinster were the first to get out of the groups and reach a semi final in Europe. Ulster were the first to reach a European final. Ulster were the first to win a European Cup. Leinster won the first ever pro era domestic trophy, beating Munster with 14 men. Leinster were the first to defend a domestic trophy. Leinster were the first to defend a European trophy. You can walk through every milestone in Irish rugby without mentioning Munsters name.

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    Mute Decko49
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    May 16th 2020, 8:12 PM

    @Mary Lou’s mole: Typical Ladyboy comment.

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    Mute Timmy O'Toole
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    May 16th 2020, 8:24 PM

    @Sean Fahey: j3sus Sean this obsession is unhealthy. Take a break man

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    Mute Decko49
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    May 16th 2020, 8:48 PM

    @Timmy O’Toole: Most people have him muted. Don’t feed the troll.

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    Mute Timmy O'Toole
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    May 16th 2020, 8:52 PM

    @Decko49: he’s not really a troll. I feel sorry for him, it’s pretty fuc€ed up

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    Mute Sean Fahey
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    May 16th 2020, 8:55 PM

    @Decko49: I contribute facts, you contribute ladyboy remarks. There’s a reason you’re all avoiding me.

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    Mute Sean Fahey
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    May 16th 2020, 8:58 PM

    @Timmy O’Toole: When you’re living in a fantasy world where myths and fairytales qualify as facts, when in any other country you’d be locked up in an asylum, I don’t think you’re in any position to comment on the behavior of others.

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    Mute PScald
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    May 16th 2020, 9:29 PM

    @Sean Fahey: you forgot to mention first Irish province to beat a touring side

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    Mute PScald
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    May 16th 2020, 10:18 PM

    @Sean Fahey: and sure since you’re making up milestones.. what about first Irish province to be in 4 European finals. Or the first province to win it twice. Or first province to qualify for the knockout stages 18 times .. first Irish team to qualify for the semi finals 14 times.. both a tournament record.. I love facts too

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    Mute PScald
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    May 16th 2020, 10:27 PM

    @PScald: that should read 4 professional finals.
    First to 2 european finals AND first to 3 European finals. Jeez these milestones really start adding up

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    Mute Liam MacSuibhne
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    May 16th 2020, 10:33 PM

    @Sean Fahey: Sean, even the image in your mirror knows you’re a sad case.
    Thoughts & prayers etc.

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    Mute Liam MacSuibhne
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    May 16th 2020, 10:34 PM

    @PScald: they do, don’t they?
    Poor Sean’s disappeared

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    May 16th 2020, 11:41 PM

    @Sean Fahey: why did you mention Munster twice in the list of milestones while making the point you can do it without mentioning them?

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    Mute David
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    May 18th 2020, 10:00 AM

    @Decko49: and there you are on the Ladyboy.

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    Mute Roger Paltry
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    May 16th 2020, 10:24 AM

    It is very hard to believe Sean Cronin has 70+ caps as he cannot throw the ball into the lineout.

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    Mute Bryan
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    May 16th 2020, 11:30 AM

    @Roger Paltry: How does he have so many tries from lineout mauls so??

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    Mute Monathan Jeany
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    May 16th 2020, 11:35 AM

    @Bryan: Witchcraft, sorcery, voodoo, shamanism & he’s fierce fast

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    Mute Roger Paltry
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    May 16th 2020, 12:31 PM

    @Bryan: What about all the lineout turnovers?

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    Mute Rochelle
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    May 16th 2020, 11:03 PM

    @Bryan: He doesn’t, he only has 6 international tries.

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    Mute Tony Walsh
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    May 16th 2020, 1:14 PM

    Bit of a cheat there. I know Sexton got his first cap at the RDS against Fiji but it says it’s wrong when I select it and doesn’t let me know the correct answer.

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    Mute Tony Walsh
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    May 16th 2020, 11:03 PM

    @Tony Walsh: fixed now

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    Mute T Meister
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    May 16th 2020, 9:54 AM

    Ridiculous Quiz. Need no passion for the game just a brain to regurgitate the stat. Schools out remember…

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    Mute Tom Dineen
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    May 17th 2020, 12:20 AM

    Leinnnnnnssssterrrrr

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