The death has taken place in Manchester of Father Marney Cunningham, the former Ireland international flank forward. He would have celebrated his 67th birthday later this month.

He was born in Cork on June 23rd, 1933, and educated at Presentation Brothers College, and represented Munster schools. A member of a distinguished rugby family, his talents came to fruition in the colours of University College, Cork.

After being capped for Munster, thus emulating his father, Jack, a lifelong Cork Constitution stalwart, he won his first international cap as a 21-year-old against France in January 1955, and retained his place throughout the championship that year. He was unlucky not to have made the Lions team that summer. He also played for the Irish Universities and the Barbarians.

He was capped three times in 1956 and was a member of the Ireland side that scored a famous 11-3 victory over Wales at Lansdowne Road in March 1956, a win that deprived Wales of a Grand Slam. That afternoon he gave an outstanding performance and marked the occasion by scoring a try in a match in which Jack Kyle dropped a memorable goal.

That match was to be Marney Cunningham's last for Ireland. He decided to study for the priesthood, thus his international career ended at 22 years of age and at a time when he looked set to have a long tenure in the Ireland team.

He had qualified as an engineer at UCC, whom he helped to win the Munster Senior Cup in 1955, and the following year he joined Cork Constitution, the club his father had captained and of which he was subsequently president.

While a clerical student at Upholland College, in Lancashire, Marney captained the college soccer team.

A man of immense humility and kindness, he subsequently became parish priest at St Charles, Swinton, Lancashire, a position from which he had to retire some months ago because of failing health.

That announcement was received with dismay by his parishioners, with whom he was a particularly popular figure, as he was with those of us who were his contemporaries at school, and the many friends he had in rugby and well outside its confines.

He retained a love for rugby, a game to which his family has made an outstanding contribution. His younger brother Joe also played for Munster, and Joe's son Paul became the third generation to play for Munster and also won a cap for Ireland A.

Struck down seven years ago by a debilitating illness, Marney met that awesome challenge with the resilience he had revealed on the rugby field. As the illness took its inevitable toll in recent months, he bore that burden with great fortitude and immense courage, but equally accepted it with the resignation and serenity in keeping with his calling before he died on Wednesday afternoon.

He is survived by his mother, his sister, Sister Marie, a nun in the Dominican Order, and by his brother Joe. Sincere sympathy is extended to the family.

He was predeceased by an older brother, Pat, some years ago.