Wallis passes on

Tommy Wallis, who was Ireland's oldest surviving rugby international, has died. His death comes a month after he celebrated his 102nd birthday, on October 2nd .

A member of a very distinguished sporting family, Thomas Gill Wallis was born in Dublin in 1898. He was a member of Wanderers and captained the club 1921-22. After playing for Leinster in the interprovincial series in 1920, he won his first cap for Ireland in the centre against France in Paris in April 1921. The following season he played on the right wing in all four championship matches.

He scored in four of the five matches he played for Ireland and was the matchwinner when Ireland beat France at Lansdowne Road in April 1922, when he kicked a penalty and conversion in Ireland's 8-3 victory. He also played for the Barbarians, but unfortunately a knee injury ended his career the following season.

He was a very accomplished all-round sportsman. In addition to his rugby exploits, he was also an international athlete and won the British AAA hurdles title. Two of his uncles, Arthur and William, also played rugby for Ireland as did a cousin Clive.

His sister Hilda represented Ireland in three different sporting disciplines, golf, hockey and tennis. She partnered another brother in the mixed doubles at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924. In addition to his sorting exploits Tommy Wallis was also a great singer and the proud winner of a Feis Ceol medal. He was a lifelong member of the Strollers musical society, and a very good composer. Many of his compositions are still sung by the society.

Although living in Kent for many years, Wallis was a regular visitor to Ireland up to last season. He liked nothing better than to go to Lansdowne Road and then to Lough Conn to indulge in his passion for fishing. It was never less than a very great pleasure to meet him at Lansdowne Road.

Despite his advancing years, he never lost his interest in rugby in general and Irish rugby in particular and he still felt a great affinity with the Wanderers club. His memory was remarkable and he could speak with great clarity on his days playing for Wanderers and Ireland almost 80 years ago and of all the great players he had played with and against.

He was the recipient of a special presentation from the IRFU in 1996 to mark the fact that he was Ireland's oldest surviving international and yet another to mark his centenary, a milestone also marked by Wanderers. He was presented with an Ireland cap after the match against England in Dublin two seasons ago.

He is survived by his son Michael, to whom sincere sympathy is extended. His wife and another son predeceased him some years ago.