2025 was an eye-opening year for Irish rugby. It started with a bang as Ireland romped to a Triple Crown in their first three games of the Six Nations.
However, after a poor home defeat to France and a turgid performance against Italy, the opinions quickly shifted, and it only got worse after the loss to New Zealand in Chicago.
However, a strong win over the Wallabies followed by the most bizarre test match in recent memory against South Africa, Ireland showed real fight, and there certainly were several players that stepped up that day and over the year in general. Here’s a look at just five of them.
Pic: Dan Sheridan/ INPHO
5. Ryan Baird
Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
This year, Baird showed that he truly is more than just a great athlete. Up until now, Baird was mainly seen as a player who was great in space but often lacked discipline. But now, he’s become a much more rounded player. He’s taken on the mantle of replacing Peter O’Mahony and has become a lineout leader. He stole multiple lineouts throughout November and was a capable caller as well for both Ireland and Leinster.
He also made the 6 jersey his own at Leinster this season. On their run to the URC title win at Croke Park, Baird cemented his place in the starting 15, something that he struggled with up until then. Many were worried about what was coming next after O’Mahony retired, but that talk has all died down now as it appears the 6 jersey is safe in the 26-year-old’s hands.
4. Tadhg Furlong
Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The Jukebox has rolled back the years in 2025 as he’s returned to playing some of his best rugby. He joined an elite group in starting 9 Lions Tests in a row over the summer, showing that even at 33, there’s no one better than the Wexford man.
He continued that form into the new season with Leinster and Ireland, playing more games at club level than he has over the past couple of seasons, as Leinster are slowly getting into the swing of things and grinding out results, no small thanks to the impact of players like Furlong off the bench. Tadhg Furlong is by far and away the best tighthead prop in the Northern Hemisphere and will likely play a vital role for Ireland come the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
3. Tommy O’Brien
Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland
The real surprise package of the year, O’Brien has gone from being an injury-prone squad player for Leinster to being one of the first names on the teamsheet for both Leinster and Ireland. He has finally shaken off some of his nagging injuries, with 2025 being the first year he really got to play consistent rugby from start to finish, and he has become a vital cog in the Leinster and Ireland machine now.
Blessed with natural speed and athleticism that few players in Ireland have, O’Brien is the exact winger Ireland was crying out for. James Lowe said that O’Brien is the type of guy to always goes 100% at training, and you can see that intensity in the way he plays. He feels like he’s come out of nowhere, but O’Brien is already 27, which makes you think what could’ve been had he stayed fit in his early years.
2. Dan Sheehan
Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Many were worried that the ACL injury he suffered in South Africa might impact his game, and they were right, as Sheehan came back an even better player than he was before the injury. Having captained Ireland on multiple occasions now, Sheehan is a true leader and if not for the freakish Malcolm Marx, would easily be considered the best hooker in the World.
He scored 19 tries this calendar year, a number most wingers can only dream of scoring, and unlike a lot of hookers who benefit from scoring off the back of mauls, Sheehan has a wide array of skills from his speed in the wide channels to his cunning dives over the line for the Lions.
1. Tadhg Beirne
Pic: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The only Irish representative in the World Rugby Dream Team of 2025, there’s no argument that Beirne has been the best Irish player this year. Player of the series on the Lions tour for their first tour win since 2013, Beirne played like a man possessed in Australia, and he’s been an inspirational leader for Munster this season so far, playing a vital role in their historic win over Leinster at Croke Park, among many other great days for the Red Army.
At 34 now, many would think he’d be over his peak by now, but Beirne has aged like a fine wine, becoming arguably the best version of himself now. The one player Leinster definitely wished they hadn’t let leave all the way back in 2016, Beirne has been one of Ireland’s best players this decade.