Over the past six months the sports photographers Billy Stickland, Dan Sheridan and James Crombie have travelled the length and breadth of Ireland, capturing each member of the Rugby World Cup squad with the people and places that mean most to them. As they make their final preparations for the tournament, which begins on Friday, here are all 31 players, plus head coach Joe Schmidt, at home, rest and play.
CIAN HEALY
The Leinster prop with his wife, Laura. The couple, who married recently, are building a house in Killester, in north Dublin.
IAIN HENDERSON
The Ulster captain with his wife, Suzanne, daughter, Lana, and dogs, Lola and Baily, in the garden at his home near Lisburn, on the border between Co Antrim and Co Down.
JOEY CARBERY
Joey Carbery, who grew up in New Zealand, loves to surf. With his dog, Tutu, in his parents’ garden in Athy, Co Kildare.
JAMES RYAN
The Leinster lock with his dad and brother, both called Mark, in Mount Merrion in south Co Dublin, near their family home.
JONATHAN SEXTON
The Leinster fly-half and Ireland vice-captain with his daughter Amy and son, Luca, in Pembroke Park, near their family home in Dartry in Dublin.
GARRY RINGROSE
The Leinster centre at Seapoint in south Co Dublin, where he goes for a recovery swim after a game.
BUNDEE AKI
The Connacht back with his daughter Adrianna on the swings in Renmore Park, in Galway.
JEAN KLEYN
The Munster lock at home in Castleconnell, Co Limerick, with his dogs Rambo and Heidi, cooking on his South African braii, or barbecue.
TADGH FURLONG
The tighthead prop with his father, James, on the family farm in Co Wexford.
ANDREW PORTER
Andrew Porter, the Leinster prop, in his garden in Cabinteely, in south Co Dublin, with a photograph of his late mum, Wendy, who died when he was just starting secondary school.
SEÁN CRONIN
The Leinster hooker with his twin sons, Cillian and Finn, at home in Clonskeagh, in south Dublin.
ANDREW CONWAY
The Munster back with his fiancee, Liz, and dog, Sadie, on the River Shannon in Co Limerick.
TADHG BEIRNE
Tadhg Beirne, the Munster forward, with his mum, Brenda, girlfriend, Harriet, sisters Caoimhe, Jennifer and Alannah, dad, Gerry, and dog, Luna, at the family home in Naas, Co Kildare.
RORY BEST
The veteran hooker and Ireland captain with his wife, Jodie, daughter, Penny, and sons Richie and Ben at the Palace Stables and Heritage Centre in Co Armagh, where the couple were married.
JOSH VAN DER FLIER
The Leinster flanker with his dad, Dirk, and mum, Olly, in their garden in Co Wicklow.
CHRIS FARRELL
Chris Farrell, the Munster centre, with his girlfriend, Estelle, at the Vico Baths near Killiney, in south Co Dublin.
JACOB STOCKDALE
The Ulster winger with his father, Graham, in Lurgan, Co Armagh. To take his mind off rugby in his downtime, he works on his vintage Mustang.
JORDAN LARMOUR
The Leinster winger with his dad, Ian, and brother, Adam, at St Andrew’s College in Booterstown, in south Co Dublin, where they went to school.
CJ STANDER
CJ Stander, the Munster forward, with his daugher, Everli, just after she was born at University Maternity Hospital in Limerick.
PETER O’MAHONY
The Munster captain and Ireland vice-captain with his wife, Jess, daughter, Indie, and son, Theo, at home in Blackrock in Co Cork.
ROB KEARNEY
The Leinster fullback (right) with his brother Dave in the Algarve, in Portugal, where they go on family holidays.
RHYS RUDDOCK
The Leinster flanker with his brother and fellow player, Ciarán, and their dad, Mike, mum, Bernadette, sister, Katie, and dog, Buddy, at the West Pier in Dún Laoghaire, in Co Dublin.
ROBBIE HENSHAW
The Leinster back playing with his dad, Tony, and dog, Buster, on the pier in their back garden in Athlone, Co Westmeath.
LUKE MCGRATH
The Leinster scrumhalf on Sandymount Strand in Dublin, close to where he grew up.
NIALL SCANNELL
Niall Scannell, the Munster hooker, with his fiancee, Maeve, at the fairground in Crosshaven, in west Co Cork.
JACK CARTY
The Connacht outhalf with his dog, Willow, on Lough Ree in Co Roscommon, near his family home.
JOHN RYAN
John Ryan, a prop for Munster, with his wife, Zita, and son, Felix, in Castleconnell, Co Limerick, where the family go for walks.
KEITH EARLS
The Munster winger with his daughters, Laurie and Ella May, in the family home in Limerick.
DAVE KILCOYNE
The Munster prop with his dad, Pat, and brothers, Alan and Páraic, on the beach in Lahinch, Co Clare.
JACK CONAN
Jack Conan, the Leinster forward, with his dog, Jess, at the Lead Mines near Kilternan, where he walks to clear his head after most games.
CONOR MURRAY
The Munster scrumhalf – with his girlfriend, Joanna Cooper – jumps off a dune in Derrynane, in Co Kerry.
JOE SCHMIDT
The head coach with his son Luke at Castle Golf Club, in Rathfarnham in Dublin.
