IRFU Officers

Tony was appointed to the IRFU in 2016 as a Leinster delegate and has served on many committees, including the Management Committee, Commercial and Marketing Committee, Finance Committee and the Women’s Game Advisory Committee. He was chair of the National Professional Game Board from 2017 to 2024. Before joining the IRFU, Tony was chair of the Leinster Academy Board and sat on the Leinster Professional Game Board. Tony played senior rugby for 14 seasons for Old Belvedere and is a former captain and President of the club. He is very proud to be the third member of Old Belvedere to be President of the IRFU following in the footsteps of Paddy Madigan (1987/88 ) and Barry Keogh (2004 /05.). Tony was educated in Belvedere College, where he developed his love of rugby, UCD and the Law Society of Ireland and is a solicitor. He is married to Kathy and has  three children Chloe, Jack and Peter (captain of Old Belvedere in 2024/25 ) and four grandchildren Ruby, Ben, Jamie and Alexandra.

Michael Collopy began his playing career at St Munchin’s College, Limerick, before continuing with Clondalkin RFC in Dublin. Following his move to Cork in 1986, he joined Sunday’s Well RFC, where he developed a long-standing association with the club that continues to this day. Away from rugby, Michael built a successful career in the hospitality industry as a Hotel Manager before establishing his own property development and management company in 1998. After nearly three decades of leadership in the sector, he retired from the business in 2026. A committed contributor to rugby administration, Michael has held a number of significant leadership positions. He previously served as Chairman of Sunday’s Well RFC and joined the Munster Branch in 2011. In 2017, he was appointed as a Munster IRFU Delegate and subsequently served as Chair of the Commercial and Marketing Committee from 2020 to 2025, playing a key role in supporting the growth and development of the game across the province.

John McKibbin is a retired senior civil servant and a long-standing contributor to rugby in Ulster and across Ireland. A member of Malone RFC and Grosvenor RFC, he enjoyed a distinguished playing career with Instonians RFC, representing the club's 1st XV for 18 years and serving as captain for three seasons. John's representative honours include captaining the Ulster Schools XV and playing for the Ulster U19 and U23 teams, as well as the IRFU President's XV. Following his playing career, he remained deeply involved in the game as Head Coach and Director of Rugby. A member of the Ulster Branch for 24 years, John served as Branch Secretary for six years before becoming President of the Ulster Branch in 2016/17. He joined the IRFU Committee in 2016 and brings extensive experience in rugby administration, governance, and player development.

Stephen Black was appointed Chair of the IRFU Management Committee in 2026, having been elected to the Union Committee in 2019. He previously served as Chair of the Rugby Committee from 2022 and has also chaired both the Age-Grade and Schools Committees, making a significant contribution to the development of the game at all levels.

A lifelong rugby volunteer, Stephen has been a member of Malone RFC since 1988, serving in a variety of leadership roles including Director of Rugby and President. He currently serves as a Club Trustee. Away from rugby, he has worked in education for over three decades and has been a school principal since 2007. He is currently Principal of Ballymena Academy, one of Northern Ireland’s largest and most prominent grammar schools.

Patrick Kennedy is a member of Old Belvedere RFC and currently serves as Honorary Treasurer of the IRFU and a member of the Union Committee. He brings extensive experience in corporate governance and financial leadership, having served as a Governor of Bank of Ireland from 2018 to 2024 and currently holding the position of Director at Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. Patrick combines his strong business and governance expertise with a lifelong commitment to rugby, supporting the ongoing development and sustainability of the game in Ireland.

John O’Driscoll was the 136^th President of the IRFU.  John had a long rugby playing career as a flanker most notably with London Irish whom he captained from 1979 – 81, leading them to the John Player Cup final in 1980.  He also played club rugby with Manchester and Liverpool St. Helen’s RFC. At provincial level he represented Connacht for 13 seasons.  On the international stage he was capped 26 times for Ireland between 1978 and 1984. He also toured with the British and Irish Lions in 1980 and 1983 playing in 19 games including six test matches. John was named as Irish Sportsman of the year in 1980. After his playing career he remained deeply involved in rugby.  He was coach to the Irish Exiles team which played in the Senior Interprovincial Championship from 1991 to 1995. He was President of the Irish Exiles from 2006 – 2010. John was a Lions selector in 2001.  He has held various administrative roles within the IRFU including as representative to World Rugby and Rugby Europe from 2016 to 2025. Outside of rugby John’s career was in medicine where he was a Consultant Dermatologist, Clinical Director of Greater Manchester Dermatology and Regional Skin Cancer Network Chair.