British and Irish Lions Legends – Ireland
The Best Irish Players to Have Graced the Lions Jersey
Apr 22, 2009
The Irish are providing 14 players including the skipper for the 2009 Lions. They are the latest in a long line of Lions greats from the Emerald Isle.
Jack Kyle of Ireland
Until the 2009 Championship, Jack Kyle had the dubious distinction of being the only Irish captain to win a Grand Slam. Kyle played in all six tests, (four against New Zealand and two against Australia), in 1950, the first Lions tour after the 2nd World War.
Kyle was an outside half with devastating acceleration, a sidestep and swerve to match and an astute kicking game. In his first test for the Lions, he scored a scintillating try, created another for Ken Jones and won a penalty from a long kick to earn the Lions a 9-9 draw.
Mike Gibson of Ireland
Gibson was one of the greatest centres of all time. He equalled Willie John McBride’s record of five Lions tours and played a record 81 test matches in an era when six internationals a season was unusual.
Gibson’s tours with the Lions were made over 11 years, and although injury prevented him gaining any caps in 1977, he is third on the all time list of Lions test appearances with 12.
Gibson’s greatest tour was the 1971 trip to New Zealand. Revelling in the space given to him by the skills of John and Dawes, he terrorised the All Blacks defence.
Tony O’Reilly of Ireland
O’Reilly was as successful off the field as on it. After he retired from rugby, he rose to become Chairman of Heinz Foods and Waterford Crystal, earning a knighthood for services to business.
O’Reilly had always been an over achiever, becoming the youngest ever Lion, when he was selected for the 1955 Lions at the age of 19. The precocious talent showed through when he broke the Lions scoring record on the tour with 16 tries in 15 matches.
O’Reilly typically smashed his own record in the 1959 tour, scoring an incredible 24 tries in 22 games. An fantastic attacking talent, his six test tries is still a record for the Lions.
Fergus Slattery of Ireland
Slattery was the traditional, destructive Irish open side flanker. He had great pace and the ability to cause panic in opposing backs as he marauded around the field in pursuit of the ball.
Selected for the 1971 tour, the young Slattery forced John Taylor out of the side for the third test, only to miss the game through illness.
On the hard grounds of South Africa in 1974, Slattery was devastating, earning his four caps by terrorising the Springbok backs and consistently winning the breakdown to keep the exciting Lions backs moving.
Slattery, was robbed of the try which would have given the Lions a 100% record. In the final minute of the final test, Slattery dived over the line, but the, (South African,) referee disallowed it and blew for full time and a draw.
Keith Wood of Ireland
‘Fester’, as he was known after the bald Adams Family character, toured with the Lions in 1997 and 2001. An irrepressible character, who was the main challenger to Martin Johnson for the captaincy on both tours, he can regularly be heard exhorting the team to greater heights in the, ‘Living With Lions’ DVD of the South African Tour.
As a player, Woods was a dynamic and mobile hooker, as happy with the ball in his hand as with his head in a ruck. He set up the match wining try in the 1st test in 1997. Seizing the ball, he kicked it 60 metres down the touchline which he chased like a winger, forcing a lineout deep in Springbok territory.
His five caps exceeded his father Gordon’s two on the 1959 tour.
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