It was officially recognised by the Irish Rugby Football Union and during the 1990s was effectively a fifth provincial team along with Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht.
During the 1992–93 season an Irish Exiles XV also played an away friendly against the Basque Country national rugby union team.
[4][5][6] Before this Irish diaspora players, including Jim Staples, Simon Geoghegan and John O'Driscoll were usually invited to represent Connacht in the championship.
Other Ireland internationals to represent the Exiles in the championship included David Curtis, Gary Halpin and Rob Saunders.
A number of Irish Exiles players have "slipped through the net" and have subsequently gone on to play for the England national rugby union team.
A number of prominent members of the Ireland women's national rugby union team have progressed through the Exiles programme.