Gary Halpin is unavailable to play for Blackrock today in the opening match of the AIB League because of an unusual demand on his time. Halpin (above) is being inducted into the Hall of Fame at New York university.

Not only does Halpin excel from the front row in rugby for Blackrock but he also represented Ireland at World Championship level in Track and Field as a top class hammer thrower. He is actually part of a long line of Irish rugby players who were also fine athletes, Michael Kiernan, Victor Costello and Brendan Mullin being three others who spring to mind.

This weekend Halpin is being honoured for winning the hammer event in three successive New York state championships for his university.