FORMER MUNSTER AND Ireland out-half Ronan O’Gara is set to join illustrious company as he’s one of five new faces to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2018.
This comes as more good news for the Corkman in a huge week as his Crusaders successfully defended their Super Rugby title on Saturday, capping his first year in New Zealand as assistant coach on a high.
World Rugby this morning announced that O’Gara, Liza Burgess (Wales), Stephen Larkham (Australia), Pierre Villepreux (France) and Bryan Williams (New Zealand) will all receive the Hall of Fame honour.
This years inductees will be honoured at a special ceremony in Rugby, England on Wednesday, 12 September, where their careers and contributions to the game will be celebrated.
The five inductees will bring the total in the Hall of Fame to 142 since its inception in 2006. O’Gara comes as number 139 and becomes the 12th Irishman to be included in the prestigious group.
World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee No.139, @IrishRugby's stalwart Ronan O'Gara #WorldRugbyHOF pic.twitter.com/BsN2bQ7h1C
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 10, 2018
Brian O’Driscoll was inducted in 2016 and joined Jack Kyle, Willie John McBride, Syd Millar, Tony O’Reilly, Mike Gibson, Ronnie Dawson, Keith Wood, Basil Maclear, Fergus Slattery and Tom Kiernan.
ROG called time on a glittering career in 2013, one in which he was capped 128 times for Ireland and stands as the country’s highest-ever points scorer.
The most valuable of those perhaps came when he scored the winning drop goal against Wales to deliver Ireland’s first Grand Slam in 61 years in 2009.
He also won two Heineken Cups with Munster and was part of three Lions touring parties. He’s enjoyed a successful coaching career since hanging up his boots, spending four and-a-half seasons with Racing 92 before making the move to the Crusaders.
World Rugby Chairman and Hall of Fame inductee Bill Beaumont said:
“The World Rugby Hall of Fame importantly acknowledges and celebrates the true legends of the game, celebrating those who have made outstanding contributions throughout their careers while embodying rugby’s values.
“On behalf of the rugby family we would like to congratulate this year’s five new inductees, Stephen Larkham, Ronan O’Gara, Pierre Villepreux, Byran Williams and Liza Burgess, as they are recognised and honoured for their immense contributions to rugby.
“Each have left their mark on the sport and through their achievements and character, inspired millions to play and support rugby worldwide, and we look forward to honouring them in the coming weeks.”
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Ah now…..thats a bit hard on Rory! He cant help where hes born. We can be so smug here in our busted Republic. Try walking the fine line of catholic/protestant….nationalist/unionist……and not stumble at least once. Rory has handled himself with total dignity and he is fully entitled to feel more British than Irish if he wants! Bottom line? Hes the worlds number one golfer and Im proud to be from the same island as him! Rock on Rory!
great event…. be better viewing if on BBC. Sky coverage is a tad ott in my opinion.
Could not agree more
Certainly OTT with the ad breaks!
Still my favourite comp in golf…but
Too much hugging and patting each other on the back and talking sh1te. And that’s the Euro team, they’re worse than the US ever were. G Mc worst of the lot. Rant over.
I’ll keep in touch with this but I have to say that it seems to me that the build up to this year’s event has been very muted. Especially when you compare it to the kind of excitment that surrounded the event in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Perhaps its just that I haven’t been looking for it. Maybe it will build over the weekend assuming its a close match.
No Podge — also it’s never quite as buzzed when it’s on the other side of the Atlantic. Nothing’s gonna compare to 2006 in terms of excitement.
i am a golf lover, however, I am no longer excited about McIlroy, yes he is amazing, but I have become ambivalent after his nationality issue.
Your problem, not his.
I dunno if its cause harrington was left behind or what but i have to say i have no interest in it this year for the first time in twenty years
Watching the Americans cheer when the Europeans hit a bad shot tells us how I’ll mannered and unsportsmanlike they are as a people. It really removes any enjoyment from the Tournament. I have experienced similar behaviour in Chicago before but never at this level.
Ok….cant sleep here!
I would love if Rory played for team Irl in next Olympics…..but if he doesnt and goes with team GB then I will cheer him on, provided hes not playing against team Irl. Just like I cheered for Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis…..and Usain Bolt! But most enduring and enjoyable memory…..our Katie!
European championships and Olympics took away from build up of ryder cup I think. Great event tho, and great coverage on journal.ie, well done guys…
Go U S of A
Yeeeeeow!
Rory already picked GB for the Olympics at Rio. Tiger back to himself after good start to The Ryder Cup. still shouting for Europe though. Day 2 is going to be better.
Don’t know what golf you were watching yesterday but Tiger was brutal, barely hit a fairway, won no points and was easily the worst player on team USA. His team are two points up despite him.
@limofax seven birdies in the afternoon fourball – hardly dire? His team simply ran into the ‘freight train’ that was Colsaerts (sp?) yesterday. What made Colsaerts’ performance (8 birds & 1 eagle I think) was that he did it all whilst carrying Westwood around the course – his back must be broke this morning!
And dropped this morning. Regardless of his birdies yesterday afternoon he still the standout failure for the Yankidy planks.