List of non-Gaelic games played in Croke Park

A rugby union match taking place at Croke Park during the 2007 Six Nations Championship

The following is a list of non-Gaelic games played at Croke Park (formerly Jones's Road). The Gaelic Athletic Association formerly prohibited the playing of foreign sports at GAA-owned stadiums under Rule 42 of its rule book.

Grounds controlled by Association units shall not be used or permitted to be used, for horse racing, greyhound racing, or for field games other than those sanctioned by Central Council.^[1]

— Rule 42, GAA rule book

While this wording remains as the current Rule 5.1(b), a footnote now reads:

(Note: Central Council shall have the power to authorise the use of Croke Park for games other than those controlled by the Association.)^[2]

— Rule 5.1(b), Official Guide

In practice the rule was only applied to the sports of soccer and rugby, which were perceived to be rivals to the playing of Gaelic games.^[3] Cricket was also banned, but Croke Park is too small for a cricket field. As such, several games of American football have been played with rule 42 in force, as well as a boxing match and a baseball game. The rule was officially relaxed in 2005 for the duration of the reconstruction of Lansdowne Road, to allow for the playing of Republic of Ireland soccer and Irish rugby internationals.^[4] The Republic of Ireland soccer and Ireland rugby internationals moved into the new Aviva Stadium on the former Lansdowne Road site upon its opening in May 2010; the last international in either sport at Croke Park was the rugby team's 2010 Six Nations home fixture with Scotland on 20 March.

On 17 June 2010 the Australia national cricket team had a training session in Croke Park ahead of their One Day International against Ireland.^[5]

American football

Date	Competition	Teams	Score	Notes
1946	Exhibition game	American servicemen returning from World War II		[6]
2 November 1996	Shamrock Classic	Notre Dame vs. Navy	54 - 27	[7]
27 July 1997	American Bowl	Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chicago Bears	30 - 17	[8]
30 August 2014	Croke Park Classic	Penn State vs. UCF	26-24	[9]

Association football (soccer)

Date	Competition	Teams	Score	Notes
24 March 2007	European Championship Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Wales	1-0	72,539 attendance.[10] First international goal scored at Croke Park by Stephen Ireland.
28 March 2007	European Championship Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Slovakia	1-0	71,297 attendance.
13 October 2007	European Championship Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Germany	0-0	67,000 attendance [11]
17 October 2007	European Championship Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Cyprus	1-1	45,500 attendance[12]
6 February 2008	Friendly	Republic of Ireland vs. Brazil	0-1	70,000 attendance[13]
24 May 2008	Friendly	Republic of Ireland vs. Serbia	1-1	42,500 attendance [14]
15 October 2008	World Cup Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Cyprus	1-0	53,500 attendance
19 November 2008	Friendly	Republic of Ireland vs. Poland	2-3	61,000 attendance
11 February 2009	World Cup Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Georgia	2-1	45,000 attendance
28 March 2009	World Cup Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Bulgaria	1-1	60,002 attendance
10 October 2009	World Cup Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Italy	2-2	70,640 attendance
14 October 2009	World Cup Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. Montenegro	0-0	36,442 attendance
14 November 2009	World Cup Qualifier	Republic of Ireland vs. France	0-1	74,103 attendance. Only Irish competitive defeat at Croke Park.

Baseball

Date	Competition	Teams	Score	Notes
1946	Exhibition game	Burtonwood Dodgers vs. Mildenhall Yankees (teams of American servicemen based in England)	Unknown	[15]

Boxing

Date	Winner	Loser	Notes
19 July 1972	Joe Bugner /	Paul Nielsen	[16]
19 July 1972	Muhammad Ali	Al "Blue" Lewis	[17]

Rugby union (club/provincial)

Date	Competition	Teams	Score	Notes
2 May 2009	Heineken Cup Semi-Final	Munster vs. Leinster	6-25	At the time a World record attendance in club rugby union.[18]

Rugby union (international)

Date	Competition	Teams	Score	Notes
11 February 2007	2007 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  France	17–20	First try scored by Raphael Ibanez. First Irish try by Ronan O'Gara.
24 February 2007	2007 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  England	43–13	Ireland's first & largest win in Croke Park
2 February 2008	2008 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  Italy	16–11
23 February 2008	2008 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  Scotland	34–13
8 March 2008	2008 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  Wales	12–16
15 November 2008	International Test Match	Ireland vs.  New Zealand	3–22	Ireland's largest defeat in Croke Park
22 November 2008	International Test Match	Ireland vs.  Argentina	17–3
7 February 2009	2009 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  France	30–21
28 February 2009	2009 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  England	14–13
15 November 2009	International Test Match	Ireland vs.  Australia	20–20
28 November 2009	International Test Match	Ireland vs.  South Africa	15–10
6 February 2010	2010 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  Italy	29-11
13 March 2010	2010 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  Wales	27-12
20 March 2010	2010 Six Nations Championship	Ireland vs.  Scotland	20-23	Last try scored by Tommy Bowe. Last points by Dan Parks (78th min penalty)

References

1. 2003 GAA Guide showing pre-2005 wording of Rule 42 University of Edinburgh GFC. Retrieved on 17-01-08.
2. Current GAA rules, p56
3. The odd couple: Soccer and GAA remain bitter enemies The Irish Independent. Published on 24-03-07. Retrieved on 24-11-07.
4. GAA Congress Rule 42 decision welcomed RTÉ.ie. Published on 16-04-05. Retrieved on 24-11-07.
5. RTÉ report of Australian cricket visit
6. Irish American Football League :: I A F L ::
7. Notre Dame Plays Navy in Dublin : When Ireland Meets The Fighting Irish International Herald Tribune. Published on 96-11-02. Retrieved on 07-11-17.
8. NFL for Export: Bears Do Dublin International Herald Tribune. Published on 97-07-26. Retrieved on 07-11-17.
9. "Penn State to Face UCF in Ireland's Croke Park Classic to Open 2014 Season" (Press release). Penn State Athletics. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
11. RTÉ Sport: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Germany
12. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/match/3035283
13. Brazil to provide opposition for Croke Park friendly Football Association of Ireland. Published on 07-11-08. Retrieved on 07-11-17.
14. BBCi. Published on 08-01-15. Retrieved on 08-01-17
15. This is no time for the GAA to circle its wagons Irish Independent. Maurice Hayes. Published on 15-04-05. Retrieved on 19-01-09.
18. Leinster 25-6 Munster. BBC Sport (2 May 2009)