Wood Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Former Ireland hooker and captain Keith Wood has been named as one of the rugby legends to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

The International Rugby Hall of Fame currently contains 43 of the greatest names in the history of the game. The first induction took place in 1997, when All-Black great Colin Meads, Lions and Ireland legend Willie John McBride and French full-back Serge Blanco were inducted.

The short-list for the biennial induction is compiled via nominations from 35 senior rugby journalists from all over the world, and the final inductee list is decided by polling 12 Trustees of the International Rugby Hall of Fame – many of whom are current inductees.

Wood was one of 12 former players to be included in the 2005 list of inductees, alongside the last three World Cup winning captains in the shape of Francois Pienaar (South Africa), John Eales (Australia) and Martin Johnson (England).

Wood won 58 caps for Ireland, an Irish record for a hooker and captained his country on 36 occasssions, another Irish record. He also played in three World Cups and retired after the 2003 tournament when Ireland were knocked out by France.

Wood and his fellow inductees will officially join the Hall of Fame at the Fifth biennial Induction Dinner to be held in London on Wednesday November 16 at The Brewery, Chiswell Street.

International Rugby Hall of Fame 2005 Inductees:

Fred Allen (New Zealand)
Phil Bennett (Wales)
Andre Boniface (France)
Naas Botha (South Africa)
John Eales (Australia)
Grant Fox (New Zealand)
Dave Gallaher (New Zealand)
Martin Johnson (England)
Ian McGeechan (Scotland)
Gwyn Nicholls (Wales)
Francois Pienaar (South Africa)
Keith Wood (Ireland)