Twenty-five greats of the game whose careers spanned 3 centuries have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Wembley on Sunday at 18:00 SA Time (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT)
Players from 7 different countries and a wide array of backgrounds were honoured at a special presentation in the Spirit of Rugby lounge at Wembley Stadium before the eagerly awaited Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool C match between New Zealand and Argentina.
From the pioneering 19th century Welsh tactician Gwyn Nichols to Rugby World Cup winners in Australian centre Tim Horan and South African scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen, the latest induction list reads like a ‘who’s who’ of rugby.
18 Captains of their countries are included. Irishman Fergus Slattery and Mervyn Davies are 2 of the names that ‘The voice of rugby’ Bill McLaren, the only non-international to feature in the latest Round of inductions, once reeled off in his unforgettable BBC commentaries.
Twice-capped coaching guru Carwyn James is 1 of 7 Welshmen to be inducted, while South Africa have 5 representatives. England, Ireland and Scotland have 3 apiece and 2 each from France and Australia make up the 25.
The inductees or family members of those who are deceased all received framed caps from World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset and chief executive Brett Gosper.
Lapasset said, “The World Rugby Hall of Fame recognises those who have made an indelible mark on our sport through feats on the field of play, displays of great character or through their tireless and inspirational work in driving forward our great game.
“The latest set of inductions includes some real legends, players who have helped to shape the image of rugby and inspire generations of fans. They are truly some of the biggest names in our sport over the past 100 years or so and all have contributed immensely to the enjoyment we have all felt watching top-level rugby over the decades. Each of these 25 inductees has made a positive impression on the sport that will last the test of time.”
Chris Rea and Pablo Mamone, who form the World Rugby Hall of Fame panel along with Henri Garcia, Nigel Starmer-Smith and secretary Chris Thau, were also in attendance.
The full list of inductees into the World Rugby Hall of Fame (in alphabetical order) is:
- Phil Bennett (Wales)
- Naas Botha (South Africa)
- Gordon Brown (Scotland)
- Marcel Communeau (France)
- Gerald Davies (Wales)
- Mervyn Davies (Wales)
- Danie Gerber (South Africa)
- Tim Horan (Australia)
- Andy Irvine (Scotland)
- Carwyn James (Wales)
- Barry John (Wales)
- Tom Kiernan (Ireland)
- Gwyn Nicholls (Wales)
- Basil Maclear (Ireland)
- Bill McLaren (Scotland)
- Edgar Mobbs (England)
- Hennie Muller (South Africa)
- Morné du Plessis (South Africa)
- Ronald Poulton-Palmer (England)
- Tom Richards (Australia)
- Jean-Pierre Rives (France)
- Fergus Slattery (Ireland)
- Wavell Wakefield (England)
- Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
- John Lewis Williams (Wales)
For more information on the Hall of Fame visit, www.worldrugby.org/halloffame.
@ cane:
Cane, I realize that you are being diplomatic, but what do you think would happen if the All Blacks had lost to a tier 2 nation like Japan?
It’s not even something any Kiwi will contemplate, and no All Black player will ever allow that to happen
@ nortie:
Lol i still think we need alberts, i dont think psdt did too badly though.
In 2007 we saw a NH team (Eng) play against a SH team (SA) in the final. Both from the same group in the preliminary stages.
In 2011 we saw a NH team (France) play against a SH team (NZ) in the final. Both from the same group in the preliminary stages.
What are the odds of this happening again?
England vs Australia in the final? Anyone?
@ MacroPolo:
What did PSdT do good?
Only Lood was semi decent, the rest were shit.
Japan with their small players played fast and turned our ball over.
We needed a Brussouw type loose forward to do the same, Flo didn’t, PSdT didn’t, Schalk didn’t.
@ Nama:
If NZ don’t win the cup my money is on Australia.
Cheika is no fool and with both Pocock and Hooper their he has the blueprint
@ Nama:
Eng and Aus weren’t in the same group were they?
We were grouped with Eng
@ nortie:
Didnt brussouw play against arg when we lost? Now suddenly we would have won?
nortie wrote:
They are now
@ MacroPolo:
To even argue any merits about whether we should have won against Japan is a waste of time.
Who else played against Arg when we lost, and also played against Japan when we lost?
Are they fine?
I’m saying that HM picked like shit and his insistence on big lumbering players has been shown to be a farce.
The Lions or Bulls team could have played Japan and beaten them by 30 plus for goodness sake.
@ MacroPolo:
“They took a long time to announce the coach in 2012 didnt they.”
What does this have to do with losing to Japan in 2015?
HM got exactly the support staff he wanted. All people who wo’t dare question him and his outdated methods and game plan.
When he was interviewed by the Lions (when they gave the job to Dick Muir) he wanted to bring his own support staff of about 12 people with him. They didn’t appoint him because they could not afford him and is team of clowns. I bet you all these guys in his Bok management team was who he had in mind for the Lion’s job.
nortie wrote:
Sorry, my mistake Nama, thought you meant 2003.
You are 100% correct, both 2007 and 2011 the teams from the same group reached the final.
Sorry, my bad 😳
36 @ nortie:
You talking about the 2003 WC? Can’t remember. Just pointing out a pattern in the last 2 world cups.
@ nortie:
No probs.
Newsflash for any youngster aspiring to be a Bok in the next 4 years op if the clown is reappointed, don’t, I repeat, don’t tattoo yourself where it’s visible.
Just ask Lionel Mapoe, Francois Hougaard and Elton Jantjies.
3 guys, who on SR form deserved to be at the WC.
Imagine what the All Black team would have looked like if HM was coaching them, and no tattooed p,ayers were selected.
Macro, before you get your panties in a knot about this post, relax, it’s only a conspiracy theory of mine
Birmingham. – Die Springbokke sal op skrumskakel, losskakel en binnesenter moet raakvat as hulle enigsins hoop om hul Wêreldbeker-veldtog weer terug op koers te kry.
Francois Pienaar, ’n gewese Bok-kaptein en flank, skryf in sy rubriek in die Engelse dagblad The Times koppe moet ná die nederlaag van 34-32 teen Japan rol. Die Bokke se volgende wedstryd in Groep B is Saterdag hier teen die fisieke Samoaanse span.
“Ek het altyd gesê 9, 10 en 12 gaan deurslaggewend wees,” sê Pienaar.
“Hulle kort nou bestendigheid met hul spankeuses, die sterkste span moet weekliks speel en geen voorbedagte veranderinge moet in die tweede helfte aangebring word nie. Die leiers moet nou ook sterk staan.”
Wonder wie sou hy daar wou sien.
FdP, Pollard en DDA?
Sal so ‘n verandering regtig ‘n verbetering wees op 9 & 10.
12 defnivokkentief.
@ nortie:
Is dit miskien die rede hoekom Willie uit die bus geval het? Omdat hy met Liefling se vrou rondflenter ? Gaan seker nie goed af met HM se morele waardes nie veral as jy ingedagte hou dat Liefling een van sy eerste projekte was.
Forgot the smilie.
Brilliant…. Hitler reacts to our loss against Japan
46 @ Nama:
Is Willie die ander man 😀
Nie geweet nie, ha ha
Ja nee, dit sit seker nie goed met die bybel studie klas nie.
Maar Willie kan verskonings word, hy het mos onder Naka gespeel en het seker maar n paar slegte gewoonte s daar opgetel oor vroetel met ander spelers se vrouens 😉
@ nortie:
Hahaha… Naka nie ‘n goeie invloed nie.
@ Nama:
Jy die All Black “B” span gesien vir die game teen Namibia?
As mens dit n “B” span kan noem 😀
@ nortie:
Waars die byskrifte?
Nog steeds bleddie snaaks as jy sommer jou eie woorde in sy mond sit.
@ Nama:
Dit was daar toe ek dit gekyk het.
Dis weird.
Vroeer vandag een gesien met Afrikaanse byskrifte ook
@ nortie:
Ja. Daai span sal ons A-span 6/7 keer wen.
Arme Namibie! Kan ook nie ‘n “break” kry nie. Altyd die top span in hul heel eerste wedstryd. Hoekom nou nie een van die kleiner outjies nie? Nou gaan die top ouens hulle desmoers speel teen die AB en dan het hulle nie meer iets in die tenk vir die kleiner lande nie.
Maar soos ek nou die dag vir iemand gese het, die Namibiers kan oor 20/30 jaar hul kleinkinders vertel hulle het die Haka geface en vir Sonny Bill/Mc Caw in sy moer geduik.
Sien dat Mc Caw nie speel nie. Jaques Burger is seker baie teleurgesteld.
@ Nama:
Dis weird dat die subtitles weg is????
Gaan youtube toe in search Hitler reacts to the springboks losing to Japan, die clip wys met die subtitles.
Man raak lekker moerig 😆
Het jy nog nie die Namibiese span iewers gesien nie, Nortie?
@ Nama:
Dink ook hulle sal spyt wees dat McCaw nie speel nie.
Pieter Rossouw het genoem dat hulle besef dit help nie hulle probeer alles teen die AB’s nie, hulle sal eerder n wen teen die ander probeer target, al het Japan die ontmoontlike gedoen.
Baie fyn lyn, Japan gaan nou afchop verder, maar hulle het geskiedenis gemaak either way
Nama wrote:
Nog nie, dalk probeer hulle die IRB ooreed dat hulle al 31 mag speel, sal nog steeds met 50 of so verloor, maar darem nie 100 nie 😀
robzim wrote:
Well, I’m flattered!
And the Samoans will probably also “run a Brumbie” on Saturday!!!
Nama wrote:
Hier is dit nou
Namibia: 15 Johan Tromp, 14 David Philander, 13 JC Greyling, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotzè, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Leneve Damens, 7 Tinus du Plessis, 6 Jacques Burger (capt), 5 Pieter-Jan van Lill, 4 Tjiuee Uanivi, 3 Johannes Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Casper Viviers, 18 Raoul Larson, 19 Renaldo Bothma, 20 Janco Venter, 21 Rohan Kitshoff, 22 Eneill Buitendag, 23 Chrysander Botha.
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