Graphic showing age of Irish rugby stars at 2027 World Cup makes for grim reading after letting chance slip v All Blacks

IRELAND will have to do a serious re-build if they are to compete at the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

It’s the end of an era for Irish rugby with Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls hanging up their boots – with a few more likely to follow later this year.

Flanker Peter O’Mahony admitted he will have a big decision to make this summer whilst Ulster lock Iain Henderson was coy when asked about his future as well.

Analysis by William Hill shows how the current squad will age and it makes grim reading for Irish fans.

At the next tournament in Australia, Conor Murray will be 38, James Lowe will be 35 with both Robbie Henshaw and Josh van der Flier 34 – to name just a few.

The Boys in Green came agonisingly close to getting past the quarter-final stage for the first time – only to fall short against New Zealand by 28-24 in Paris at the weekend.

Nonetheless, lock Iain Henderson is confident about the future – believing the new generation of players will take Ireland to a new level.

He said: “It’s honestly been the most enjoyable rugby of my life.

“Working with those guys day in, day out. We train hard and at the same time you come off the pitch, be it with a coach or other players, you have craic, you have enjoyab