Tony O’Reilly and Willie John McBride could join the legendary Jack Kyle in the IRB Hall of Fame next week when nine new names will be added to international rugby’s exclusive list.
The IRB will induct nine players on Tuesday to commemorate the 13th British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
The public voted on a shortlist comprising ten Lions and 14 Springboks earlier this year before a panel finalised the selection.
There were two Irish players on the Lions panel - O’Reilly and McBride – along with three Englishmen, (Cherry Pillman, Jeff Butterfield and Fran Cotton), one Scot (Jim Greenwood) and four Welshmen (Cliff Morgan, Phil Bennett, JPR Williams and Graham Price).
The nine players will be announced during a ceremony at the Rugby School in England on Tuesday.
Previous IRB Hall of Fame inductees
2006— William Webb Ellis and Rugby School
2007— Baron Pierre de Coubertin, Sir Wilson Whineray, Dr Danie Craven, Gareth Edwards and John Eales.
2008 — 1888Natives Team of New Zealand and Joe Warbrick, Melrose RFC and Ned Haig, Dr Jack Kyle, Hugo Porta and Philippe Sella.
