Former Ireland and Lions greats Tom Kiernan and Fergus Slattery have been chosen as two of the latest inductees into the prestigious International Rugby Hall of Fame.
Nine former players and one journalist, respected New Zealand writer Sir Terry McLean, will be officially inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame at a special dinner at Old Billingsgate, London on Tuesday, October 9.
The inductees for 2007, who include seven former captains of their country, are Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), Jason Leonard (England), Ieuan Evans (Wales), Joost Van Der Westhuizen (South Africa), Danie Gerber (South Africa), Tom Kiernan (Ireland), Graham Mourie (New Zealand) and Fergus Slattery (Ireland). Bennie Osler and Sir Terry McLean (New Zealand), the renowned rugby writer, will both be inducted posthumously.
The ten men were elected after a rigorous induction process involving a screening committee of selected international rugby writers and a board of trustees.
Two legendary Irish Lions are being inducted after memorable careers at the top of the game. Tom Kiernan set new marks for caps, points and captaincy in 13 seasons in the Ireland jersey and toured South Africa twice with the Lions, including as captain in 1968.
Kiernan’s career was almost replicated by the dynamic flanker Fergus Slattery, another captain of Ireland in 17 of his 61 tests, and a leading figure on two Lions tours that included the historic and invincible expedition to South Africa in 1974.
The 2007 inductees will join a Hall of Fame already includes 55 of the greatest names in the history of rugby union – former Ireland and Lions hooker Keith Wood was the last Irishman to be inducted in 2005.
Other former Ireland players in the Hall of Fame include Mike Gibson, Jack Kyle, Willie John McBride, Syd Millar and Tony O’Reilly.
INDUCTEE FACT FILES:
THOMAS JOSEPH KIERNAN
Born: January 7, 1939 in Cork
Position: Full-Back
Clubs/International Honours: UCC, Cork Constitution, Munster, Barbarians, British & Irish Lions
International Debut: January 13, 1960 v England, Twickenham
Last International Appearance: February 24, 1973 v Scotland, Murrayfield
Ireland Caps: 54 (captain in 24); Scored 158 points
Lions Tests: 5 (captain in 4); Scored 35 points
JOHN FERGUS SLATTERY
Born: February 12, 1949 in Dublin
Position: Flanker
Clubs/International Honours: Blackrock College, UCD, Leinster, Barbarians, British & Irish Lions
International Debut: January 10, 1970 v South Africa, Lansdowne Road
Last International Appearance: January 21, 1984 v France, Parc des Princes
Ireland Caps: 61 (captain in 17); Scored 3 tries
Lions Tests: 4
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