Mark Sexton appointed Head Coach of Ireland XV

Ulster Rugby attack coach Mark Sexton has been named Head Coach of the Ireland XV for the 2026/27 season. He will lead the national development side through a three-match fixture series designed to bridge the gap between provincial rugby and the senior international squad.

Sexton will be supported by a coaching staff including Jimmy Duffy, Jared Payne, and Seamus Toomey. The campaign begins on November 20 at Virgin Media Park in Cork against Fiji ‘A’. The team will then face Chile at Queen’s University in Belfast on February 12, before concluding the series against England ‘A’ at Sandy Park in Exeter on February 20.

IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys stated that the programme is a vital part of the player development pathway, allowing the union to assess talent and build depth within the national player pool by exposing emerging players to senior international standards.