Since the Republic is not part of the UK or Britain, the chances of one of our British teams meeting ROI is less likely. After all there was the British Home Championships that ran from 1885. England did play Ireland in Belfast, Scotland and Wales annually, surely a good test, until 1984 when the tournament was laid to rest.
The Welsh and the Republic of Ireland have only met 14 times, the first in 1960 when Wales won at Dalymount in Dublin 2-3. Irishmen Charlie Hurley and Johnny Giles played in front of a 20,000 crowd that saw Fionan (Paddy) Fagan, at the time playing for Manchester City, scored twice.
Wales included Cliff Jones and Terry Medwin, wingers of the great Spurs side, Phil Woosnam, Roy Vernon, Mel Nurse; some of you may remember them. Look up your Charles Buchan annuals if not.
This welsh team actually played Brazil in that era but most of the team were in the Irish game....recognise many?
It was a friendly and then a further 8 friendlies were pplayed until the two sides met in the European Championships in 2007 twice (1-0 to the Republic and a 2-2 draw). There was a Nations Cup match (ROL won 3-0), another friendly in 2013 and now two World Cup qualifiers in 2017. The Republic held Wales to 0-0 on 24th March 2017 and have a crucial match to play this evening.
The combinations are, if Wales win, they go through; if ROI win, they go through and there are other combos based on other nations in the group!
England and the ROI have met 16 times with England winning 5 times and there are 9 draws. The first time the two met was in 1946, and three years later the Republic was officially declared.
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