IRFU Charitable Trust 2026 Rugby Lunch – Kindly Sponsored by Aon

We are thrilled to announce special guest Edel McMahon will join Joe Schmidt, with MC Risteárd Copper,  for the Rugby Lunch this November.  A highly accomplished elite athlete, Edel is regarded as one of Ireland’s outstanding flankers, having played for Connacht, Wasps, currently Exeter Chiefs, and of course is an Ireland International having previously captained the team.  Like many rugby players in Ireland her first sport was GAA, winning an Intermediate Club title before lining out initially for Galwegians RFC, followed by her first international cap for Ireland within five years!  Praised as one of Ireland’s greatest coaches, Joe is now back in Ireland as a part-time Coach Development Advisor for Ulster Rugby.  After leaving the Ireland Head Coach position to his second-in-command Andy Farrell after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Joe returned to New Zealand becoming an Assistant Coach to the Blues in Auckland, later becoming a Selector and Coach for the All Blacks leading up to and during the 2023 Rugby World Cup (which Irish fans will vividly remember), followed by a brilliant two year tenure as Head Coach for the Wallabies.

We are delighted Edel, Joe and Risteárd will join us for the annual Rugby Ball, kindly sponsored by Aon, which once again takes place at the five-star InterContinental Hotel Dublin on Friday 13th November 2026.

This is always one of the standout dates in the rugby social calendar – a day packed with great company, top-class hospitality and unforgettable stories from the game we all love.  Most importantly, it is a powerful show of support for the 36 seriously injured rugby players and their families across Ireland’s four provinces, who rely on the IRFU Charitable Trust for lifelong care.

Coinciding with the newly created Nations Championship – with Ireland facing Fiji at the Aviva Stadium – the lunch kicks off in style with a drinks reception sponsored by Guinness as well as Prosecco kindly sponsored by Bacchus Vino, followed by a superb three-course lunch with wine.  Guests will once again enjoy an entertaining Q&A with special rugby guests mentioned above, interviewed by one of the Trust’s greatest supporters – Nigel Osborne; along with a Live Auction, very kindly hosted by Keith Lowe of DNG, featuring unique and highly sought-after lots.

Ireland will already have taken on Argentina the previous weekend, with the mouth-watering clash against South Africa to come the weekend after – ensuring the rugby conversations will be flowing all afternoon!

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who joined us in November 2025.  Your generosity and compassion were movingly reflected in the words of one of our special guests, seriously injured player Niall McCool, who attended with his eldest daughter, Grace.  Niall spoke powerfully about the difference the Trust has made to his family’s life:

“The Charitable Trust helped me immensely with the new house … more accessibility, such as ramps to the front and back doors, and a whole new front door to widen it for access.  The team at the Charitable Trust don’t just do things – they care.  They are interested in your life and we have been blessed to have that constant support.”

Support from the wider rugby family – guests, volunteers, prize donors, corporate supporters, the IRFU and the four provinces – is absolutely vital to ensuring the Trust can continue to provide this level of care for every injured player and their family.  We are especially grateful to Aon, whose longstanding sponsorship makes this special event possible year after year.

It’s a team game and we would be very grateful if you could show your support by securing your table today, enjoying a fantastic rugby occasion and help change the lives of those who have been seriously injured playing the game we all love.

Contact Linda Black on 087 7458438 or email charitabletrust@irfu.ie
Tables of ten are €1,800, with a special discounted rate for FRIENDS of the IRFU Charitable Trust – please ask Linda for details.

Join us, bring your friends or colleagues, shoulder-to-shoulder, with the rugby community in supporting those who gave everything for the game.

Thank you for your continued support of seriously injured rugby players and their families.