It’s not enough to raise a tricolour or pick up a pint of name brand stout. You don’t have to forget the land of your fathers, you simply have to pour your heart and soul in to your craft for the betterment of Irish sport.
Rodrigo Romos / INPHO
Rodrigo Romos / INPHO / INPHO
2. Jack Charlton
The first in a long line of coaches on this list — because if you represent Ireland on the sporting field, you’re not adopted — Big Jack took Ireland from the wilderness of international football all the way to The Vatican.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
We’re not quite sure where that metaphor ended and reality began, but Charlton presided over a period that made Ireland believe it was capable of incredible sporting feats.
3. Shaun Payne
An unsung hero when he played, but Payne was a quietly effective fullback: solid under a high ball, against oncoming carriers and able to knit attacks together.
When he retired he suited up as team manager for the southern province to act as conduit between players and the board.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Payne returned to South Africa, but was inundated with well-wishers after being the victim of an armed robbery on his home.
4. Phil Simmons
What Big Jack did for football, Big Phil did for the long-ignored Irish cricket scene.
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Under the Trinidadian, Ireland have pulled up trees at World Cups with wins of England and the West Indies as Ireland attempt to become a fully fledged Test nation in their own right.
Simmons left Ireland to take charge of his native West Indies this year. Photosport / Bruce Lim/INPHO
Photosport / Bruce Lim/INPHO / Bruce Lim/INPHO
5. Rocky Elsom
You don’t have to be loved by the whole island to be an adopted son, just respected. The Australian back row supercharged Leinster and guided them to the long-awaited Heineken Cup title they’d been dreaming of.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
When he returned to tour with Australia, Elsom’s team-mates would joke that he was treated like the ‘Mayor of Dublin’ anywhere he went.
6. Henrik Larsson
Maybe more of a long lost son rather than an adopted one. Think back a decade and a half to when Scottish football was worth watching and this whole country was besotted with the prolific Swede.
Allsport / INPHO
Allsport / INPHO / INPHO
And with Ireland enduring a long absence from International tournaments, in our droves we turned on to live vicariously through Larsson at Euro 2004.
7. Isa Nacewa
An absolute breath of fresh air on and off the field. Leinster fans have a solitary cap for Fiji to thank for the New Zealander packing his bags (and turning down Joe Schmidt at Clermont) to come to Dublin.
On his way to three Heineken Cups, Nacewa filled just about every position in Leinster’s back-line. And despite starring at fullback, he never made a peep when Rob Kearney was drafted staight back in to the number 15 jersey after injury. Nacewa was capable of having a remarkable affect on a game even in wide positions.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
He’s back for a second stint at the province now after two years retired. Despite offers closer to home, there was only one blue jersey he wanted to fill again.
8. Ryan Guy
A beloved attacker of St Patrick’s Athletic, the American was a livewire on the field. He ultimately proved his Irishness with this terrible rap.
Before Elsom, and probably even still, this man was the most influential player to Irish provincial rugby.
Seen here returning to Thomond as a Wallabies coach, Williams was more than just a hard-nosed back row, he set an example and helped raise the performance culture in Munster so that second place was unacceptable.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
10. Pat Lam
If anyone has made more of an effort to fully invest themselves in their new surroundings, then Pat Lam has probably met with them and tried to learn a little more.
The ex-Samoan international has struck the perfect balance since landing in Galway; between imposing a new rugby culture and bringing the best out of the hard work ethic that was already in place.
Kevin Barnes / INPHO
Kevin Barnes / INPHO / INPHO
His time with Munster nemesis Northampton was forgotten about by the time he spoke Irish — no mean feat for a Samoan.
11. Dan Murray
The Cork City stalwart falls into that ‘I can’t believe he’s not Irish’ category. The Peterborough native has been the linchpin of the Rebels’ defence since moving over in 2002 and even took his talents to Shamrock Rovers for two seasons as captain before heading south again to resume his legendary status at Turner’s Cross.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
12. Joe Schmidt
Saint Joe. From his early days in Mullingar to the trophy-laden days in Leinster and now, around the corner on Lansdowne Road, Schmidt’s attention to detail and desire to be better every day have made deified him to Irish rugby fans.
The 12 greatest honorary Irishmen in sport
BECOMING AN HONORARY Irishman isn’t for everyone.
It’s not enough to raise a tricolour or pick up a pint of name brand stout. You don’t have to forget the land of your fathers, you simply have to pour your heart and soul in to your craft for the betterment of Irish sport.
1. Gunnar Nelson
Like the Vikings that settled his native Iceland, this SBG stalwart has become more Irish than the Irish themselves (to borrow a phrase).
2. Jack Charlton
The first in a long line of coaches on this list — because if you represent Ireland on the sporting field, you’re not adopted — Big Jack took Ireland from the wilderness of international football all the way to The Vatican.
We’re not quite sure where that metaphor ended and reality began, but Charlton presided over a period that made Ireland believe it was capable of incredible sporting feats.
3. Shaun Payne
An unsung hero when he played, but Payne was a quietly effective fullback: solid under a high ball, against oncoming carriers and able to knit attacks together.
When he retired he suited up as team manager for the southern province to act as conduit between players and the board.
Payne returned to South Africa, but was inundated with well-wishers after being the victim of an armed robbery on his home.
4. Phil Simmons
What Big Jack did for football, Big Phil did for the long-ignored Irish cricket scene.
Under the Trinidadian, Ireland have pulled up trees at World Cups with wins of England and the West Indies as Ireland attempt to become a fully fledged Test nation in their own right.
5. Rocky Elsom
You don’t have to be loved by the whole island to be an adopted son, just respected. The Australian back row supercharged Leinster and guided them to the long-awaited Heineken Cup title they’d been dreaming of.
When he returned to tour with Australia, Elsom’s team-mates would joke that he was treated like the ‘Mayor of Dublin’ anywhere he went.
6. Henrik Larsson
Maybe more of a long lost son rather than an adopted one. Think back a decade and a half to when Scottish football was worth watching and this whole country was besotted with the prolific Swede.
And with Ireland enduring a long absence from International tournaments, in our droves we turned on to live vicariously through Larsson at Euro 2004.
7. Isa Nacewa
An absolute breath of fresh air on and off the field. Leinster fans have a solitary cap for Fiji to thank for the New Zealander packing his bags (and turning down Joe Schmidt at Clermont) to come to Dublin.
On his way to three Heineken Cups, Nacewa filled just about every position in Leinster’s back-line. And despite starring at fullback, he never made a peep when Rob Kearney was drafted staight back in to the number 15 jersey after injury. Nacewa was capable of having a remarkable affect on a game even in wide positions.
He’s back for a second stint at the province now after two years retired. Despite offers closer to home, there was only one blue jersey he wanted to fill again.
8. Ryan Guy
A beloved attacker of St Patrick’s Athletic, the American was a livewire on the field. He ultimately proved his Irishness with this terrible rap.
9. Jim Williams
Before Elsom, and probably even still, this man was the most influential player to Irish provincial rugby.
Seen here returning to Thomond as a Wallabies coach, Williams was more than just a hard-nosed back row, he set an example and helped raise the performance culture in Munster so that second place was unacceptable.
10. Pat Lam
If anyone has made more of an effort to fully invest themselves in their new surroundings, then Pat Lam has probably met with them and tried to learn a little more.
The ex-Samoan international has struck the perfect balance since landing in Galway; between imposing a new rugby culture and bringing the best out of the hard work ethic that was already in place.
His time with Munster nemesis Northampton was forgotten about by the time he spoke Irish — no mean feat for a Samoan.
11. Dan Murray
The Cork City stalwart falls into that ‘I can’t believe he’s not Irish’ category. The Peterborough native has been the linchpin of the Rebels’ defence since moving over in 2002 and even took his talents to Shamrock Rovers for two seasons as captain before heading south again to resume his legendary status at Turner’s Cross.
12. Joe Schmidt
Saint Joe. From his early days in Mullingar to the trophy-laden days in Leinster and now, around the corner on Lansdowne Road, Schmidt’s attention to detail and desire to be better every day have made deified him to Irish rugby fans.
Long may he reign.
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