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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Meet the wives and girlfriends of Ireland's rugby stars ahead of New Zealand clash

Ireland face New Zealand in the first of their three summer tests this weekend.

Andy Farrell's men come into the series as the underdogs and face a massive challenge against the third highest ranked team in the world.

Ireland have never tasted victory against their hosts on New Zealand soil and are set to play at a stadium in which the All Blacks hold a 46-match unbeaten record stretching back to 1994.

READ MORE: Johnny Sexton: Ireland must keep evolving to avoid peaking early for World Cup

But Farrell’s side go into the three-match series on the back of being beaten just once in 13 Tests during the past 17 months.

Cheering them on all the way in New Zealand over the next few weeks will be the players' wives and girlfriends:

Keith Earls - Edel Earls

Keith Earls and his wife Edel (Inpho)

The sole survivor from the team that lost to the Maori All Blacks during the week, Keith Earls married Edel in Clare in 2016 at Our Lady Star of the Sea church in Quilty, surrounded by family as well as Earls' Munster and Ireland teammates.

The pair have three daughters together, Ella May, Laurie and Emie.

When their first child Ella May was born back in 2012, she fell ill and remained in hospital.

She grew up with a serious respiratory lung condition and at the dawning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Earls spoke out urging people to be vigilant to protect his daughter and others like her with underlying conditions.

He said: "As a father of a child with a serious respiratory lung condition and many others like her, I urge the public to please listen to the professionals. I will do everything I can to protect her."

Garry Ringrose - Ellen Beirne

Garry Ringrose and Ellen Beirne (Instagram/ Garry Ringrose)

The couple have been dating for several years, with Ringrose a crucial component to Ireland's squad.

Previously speaking about Ellen, Ringrose told Independent.ie: “I am incredibly lucky to have her in my corner in the not-so-great times.

“It’s even better having them (her and his family) on the great days because they have been through it all on that same journey with you. Thankfully I have her with me, she is a huge support.”

Robbie Henshaw - Sophie Marren

Robbie Henshaw and Sophie Marren (Instagram/ Sophie Marren)

Marron has been dating Henshaw for quite a number of years, after getting together in 2016.

She made her red carpet debut with him years ago, but has kept a low profile since.

Johnny Sexton - Laura Priestley

Ireland's Johnny Sexton with his wife Laura (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Childhood sweethearts Johnny Sexton and Laura Priestley married in a gorgeous Limerick ceremony back in 2013.

They welcomed their first child, Luca, in 2013 and their second, Amy, one day after Ireland's clash with Wales back in 2016 followed by their third, Sophie, in 2018.

Tadhg Furlong - Aine Lacey

Tadhg Furlong (©INPHO/Ryan Bailey)

The Ireland forward has been in a long-term relationship with Cushinstown native Aine Lacey for some time.

Although there's not an awful lot known about the pair or their relationship.

Tadhg Beirne - Harriet Fuller

(Instagram)

The Munster lock and his fiancee have been going out for some time, and Beirne popped the question last year.

He proposed last December at Adare Manor Hotel in Limerick.

Peter O'Mahony - Jessica Moloney

Jessica Moloney and Peter O'Mahony (Twitter)

Belgian born Jessica is a solicitor in Cork and has been dating O'Mahony for a number of years.

After getting engaged back in March of 2018, the couple got married in the summer of 2020.

They have three children together; daughter Indie and sons Theo and Ralph.

Conor Murray - Joanna Cooper

The Limerick man, who recently returned from injury, is engaged to 2015 Miss Universe Ireland winner Joanna Cooper.

Cooper studied Journalism at Belfast University and works as a model.

According to her Instagram page, she works with Present Model Management and Studio Paris MGMT.

The couple got engaged in March of this year.

Jack Conan - Ali Cunningham

(Instagram/jack.conan)

The Leinster number eight has been dating Ali Cunningham for the past four years.

Bundee Aki - Kayla Ielemia

Bundee Aki with his family (Instagram/Bundee Aki)

Aki took a year out from his professional rugby career in 2011, when he worked as a bank teller at a Westpac in his native New Zealand to earn money for his family.

After reigniting his career with the Chiefs, Aki moved with his wife and kids to Galway where he would go on to win the PRO12 Championship and build a formidable reputation in his new home.

Aki's and his wife Kayla Ielemia have three children together; daughters Armani-Jade and Adrianna as well as a son named Andronikas.

Joey Carberry - Robyn Flanagan

Joey Carbery and Robyn Flanagan (Instagram/ Robyn Flanagan)

The Munster star has been dating Robyn Flanagan for seven years and the couple got engaged in November 2021.

They started going out when they were both 19.

Jordan Larmour

Leinster and Ireland star Jordan Larmour has been going out with girlfriend Lucy Byrne for the past few years.

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