Twenty-five greats of the game whose careers spanned 3 centuries have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Wembley on Sunday at 18:00 SA Time (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT)
Players from 7 different countries and a wide array of backgrounds were honoured at a special presentation in the Spirit of Rugby lounge at Wembley Stadium before the eagerly awaited Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool C match between New Zealand and Argentina.
From the pioneering 19th century Welsh tactician Gwyn Nichols to Rugby World Cup winners in Australian centre Tim Horan and South African scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen, the latest induction list reads like a ‘who’s who’ of rugby.
18 Captains of their countries are included. Irishman Fergus Slattery and Mervyn Davies are 2 of the names that ‘The voice of rugby’ Bill McLaren, the only non-international to feature in the latest Round of inductions, once reeled off in his unforgettable BBC commentaries.
Twice-capped coaching guru Carwyn James is 1 of 7 Welshmen to be inducted, while South Africa have 5 representatives. England, Ireland and Scotland have 3 apiece and 2 each from France and Australia make up the 25.
The inductees or family members of those who are deceased all received framed caps from World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset and chief executive Brett Gosper.
Lapasset said, “The World Rugby Hall of Fame recognises those who have made an indelible mark on our sport through feats on the field of play, displays of great character or through their tireless and inspirational work in driving forward our great game.
“The latest set of inductions includes some real legends, players who have helped to shape the image of rugby and inspire generations of fans. They are truly some of the biggest names in our sport over the past 100 years or so and all have contributed immensely to the enjoyment we have all felt watching top-level rugby over the decades. Each of these 25 inductees has made a positive impression on the sport that will last the test of time.”
Chris Rea and Pablo Mamone, who form the World Rugby Hall of Fame panel along with Henri Garcia, Nigel Starmer-Smith and secretary Chris Thau, were also in attendance.
The full list of inductees into the World Rugby Hall of Fame (in alphabetical order) is:
- Phil Bennett (Wales)
- Naas Botha (South Africa)
- Gordon Brown (Scotland)
- Marcel Communeau (France)
- Gerald Davies (Wales)
- Mervyn Davies (Wales)
- Danie Gerber (South Africa)
- Tim Horan (Australia)
- Andy Irvine (Scotland)
- Carwyn James (Wales)
- Barry John (Wales)
- Tom Kiernan (Ireland)
- Gwyn Nicholls (Wales)
- Basil Maclear (Ireland)
- Bill McLaren (Scotland)
- Edgar Mobbs (England)
- Hennie Muller (South Africa)
- Morné du Plessis (South Africa)
- Ronald Poulton-Palmer (England)
- Tom Richards (Australia)
- Jean-Pierre Rives (France)
- Fergus Slattery (Ireland)
- Wavell Wakefield (England)
- Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
- John Lewis Williams (Wales)
For more information on the Hall of Fame visit, www.worldrugby.org/halloffame.
@ Nama:
Ek dink elke Namibiese speler sal wil speel in daai game, dis n once in a lifetime geleentheid vir daai spelers om die Haka te face, die AB’s te speel en ek dink hulle gaan vuisslaan onder mekaar om truie te ruil na die wedstryd
@ Nama:
Saracens flanker Jacques Burger will lead an experienced Namibian outfit against New Zealand in their Pool C match at Olympic Park on Thursday.
The matchday 23 boasts ten players with World Cup experience. Burger, Eugene Jantjies and Tinus du Plessis will play at their third tournament.
This will be the first ever Test match between Namibia and New Zealand.
Looking ahead to their opening game, Namibia head coach Phil Davies stressed his side must not be overawed by the occasion this Thursday.
“I think it is about concentration. The lads are such an enthusiastic bunch, they love the game and training. We have come together as a squad in different guises. We’ve had to blend a squad and team spirit with guys from varying situations. That has been fantastic to do and see. They are excited about playing New Zealand and to have the Namibian flag and New Zealand flag flying from the top of the stadium together,” said the former Cardiff Blues director of rugby.
“Hopefully if we do our jobs well we can put some good stuff together and give a good account of ourselves on the field. It won’t be a problem keeping them calm, just keeping them focused is the key.”
Namibia famously lost 142-0 to Australia at 2003’s RWC and will be keen not to suffer a similar defeat in this game.
“The only thing I’m pretty confident about is the way that we’re going to approach the game. The way the players have worked up until this point. I’m confident we’ll give a performance. We hope that this World Cup, we’ll perform well on the pitch on a consistent basis. The scoreboard then takes care of itself, in many ways. I’m confident we’ll play well,” said Davies.
40 @ Nama:
The thing is. Who was available in 2012 when the super rugby season had just started?
44 @ nortie:
Well ardea savea, broadhurst and sapoaga were three off the best players of the entire super rugby tournament where are they now?
Coaches have their favorites that will never ever change.
Nama wrote:
😆
@ nortie:
Het die clip op youTube opgespoor.
Moer snaaks.
60 @ nortie:
Ek ken ou trompie op heelagter. Ja dis n helse ervaring om teen die ab’s te speel.
Snaaks Renaldo bothma is op die bank. Daai ou se stocks het maar geval.
@ nortie:
Ek weet nie of jy al vir Eugene Jantjies gesien het nie, maar hy weeg seker nie meer as 60kg nie. Net so klein soos sy pa.
Muggie maar man.
MacroPolo wrote:
Het ook so gedink….wys jou net as jy besluit jy wil vir die Sharks speel 😀
63 @ MacroPolo:
Een ding wat altyd vergeet word is dat HM nie deur ‘n proses gegaan et voordat hy aangestel is nie. Hy is ge”head hunt” deur Jurie.So, waarom het dit so lank gevat om sy aanstelling te bevestig? Wie se skuld was dit? Was dit nie miskien weer HM en sy klomp voorwaardes nie?
Wie was beskikbaar?
Hy kon vir Plumtree uit sy kontrak by die Sharks laat koop het of hom gebruik het, al was hy by die Sharks, soos wat PdV met Muir moes doen in 2008.
@ nortie:
Balbesit sal Namibia se grootste probleem wees. Wonder of hulle 30% balbesit gaan kry en dan heel waarskynlik ook net op die agtervoet.
Sal seker soos ‘n span verdedig vir die eerste 30 minute of so, maar moet staat maak op individuele aanvalle voor die damwal heeltemal oopbars.
@ Nama:
Tellings hierdie WB is nie so groot soos voriges nie, skeidsregters laat nie regtig vloek toe nie, blaas vir elke klein ding of gaan TMO toe vir alle stront.
Dink tog hulle sal met so 80-90 verloor, maar twyfel of mens weer tellings soos 145 ens sal sien
@ nortie:
Skeidsregters laat nie vloei toe nie….nie vloek toe nie.
Wel, beide is seker reg 😀
Even Markie is now jumping ship.
“Heyneke Meyer’s tenure as Springbok coach must end after this World Cup, writes MARK KEOHANE in Business Day.
No other coach in the history of Springbok rugby would have survived the horror of defeat to Japan.
Heyneke Meyer lives on, once again apologetic to a nation and stumped for answers.”
The part that I find the most interesting.
“Meyer’s been given a free ride by his administration and the South African media has treated him with generosity and with blind faith.”
Is Markie distancing himself from said media just like FdP, “I warned the Boks”, distanced him from the team after the loss?
Would be interesting to go through his archive and see when he began to question HM.
@ Nama:
I thought that the article by Mark was the first true article I have read in a long time and he hit the nail on the head.
Excellent piece IMO.
@ Nama:
Dan moes die sharks n nuwe afrigter soek soos die nuwe seisoen begin? Makliker gese as gedoen. Wou hulle nie nienaber by die bokke gehad het nie?
70 @ Nama:
En jou vrae.. Ek weet eerlikwaar nie.
nortie wrote:
As die rugby owerhede ernstig is om die spel globaal te laat groei sal hulle daardie tv verwysing moet verminder… die spel word al hoe stadiger en gaan binnekort so ‘n stop- start affere soos Amerikaanse Voetbal word as dit so voortgaan… dit is waarom sokker wegbly van tv skeidsregters en al hoe gewilder word.
@ nortie:
Ja-nee, dis ‘n baie goeie artikel. Probleem wat ek het is dat Markie nou die ander dag nog vir HM geskerm het en gese het dat hy heeltemal reg is om die “ou” manne te betrek. Iets te doen met ervaring en al daai kak.
@ MacroPolo:
Macro, toe PdV aangestel was, wou niemand met hom werk nie. Almal het links en regs sy offer van assistent afrigter an die hand gewys, HM ingesluit. Hy moes toe vir Muir betrek wat op daai stadium alreeds deur die Leeus aangestel was as ek reg onthou. Muir moes sy twee werke “juggle”.
Die Leeus het nou wel al hul wedstryde in die S12 verloor, maar daais ‘n ander storie.
robzim wrote:
I think it was a standard Rob McQueen move who introduced the two tier backline play to the Brumbies and world rugby
@ Nama:
Jammer, ek sien Muir is eers in 2009 by die Leeus aangestel. ‘n Jaar nadat hy as agterlyn afrigter by die Bokke aangestel is. Hoe het SARU soiets toegelaat?
@ nortie:
Hi Nortie… i read that piece from Keo and it was on point…Ol Ryan Verdes article however was a joke…he reminded his readers over the years the close relationship he has with Meyer and how brilliant Meyer was but now after all those private conversations he suddenly had his doubts… this guy backed the wrong horse…
@ Te Rangatira:
Hi TR, Keo really hit the nail on the head.
It’s difficult to feel sorry for HM, all of this is self induced. He has turned the majority of Bok fans against him, he still has some supporters, but they are few and far between.
He and his team have disgraced a once proud rugby nation in the space of 12 months, but hopefully after this WC we can somehow build a new legacy.
We live in hope
@ nortie:
We’ve been saying it for four years now Nortie…and hopefully a coach will come in for Meyer after this WC that will have the guts to take the Bok game apart and rebuild into the machine we know it can be…Tbh…the last two coaches you guys have had…havent been good enough for varying reasons…
84 @ Te Rangatira:
Hi TR,
I don’t believe it will be a foreign coach though; no sane-minded guy would take the job with the meddling ANC government telling him who to pick and who to leave out…
Would you?
84 @ Te Rangatira:
I thought Jake was the right guy at the right time, he had to rebuild after the disaster that was Strauli, and he ended with a WC trophy.
De Villiers had some success, a lot was down to some class players, but he at least won some silverware and had a good record both home and away against you guys, not many SA coaches can say that.
Most Bok supporters gave HM a long chance, even though he failed to win any silverware, but the last 18 months or so most supporters woke up and smelt the coffee and have started seeing him for what he is, a very outdated coach trying to compete with modern opposition.
We always believed we could beat anyone, barring the AB’s, every time we play….we have now been reduced to we hope we can win even if we play against Argentina, Japan, Samoa or Scotland.
BrumbiesBoy wrote:
There is no way the loss to Japan can be laid under the transformation door.
Irrespective of the so called targets laid down, HM selected every single player he wanted and who he believed can play his game plan.
The problem is that those players are injured and out of form, not the fault of the ANC
I will even bet you that we could pick a side just made up of players of color left behind to play CC and they would beat Japan.
Their are more than enough players that did well enough in SR that merited a chance to prove themselves and was overlooked, whether white, black or colored.
@ nortie:
Sure, I agree with most of what you’re saying but I’m looking at “the big picture” and not just one game that shocked the entire world.
@ BrumbiesBoy:
Hi Brumby…Saru will have their work cut out attracting top coaches from overseas because of the way the game is run over your ways…Nz coaches have this loyalty issue to the Abs and some if not most couldn’t head the Boks because of it..I would however..as I feel it is the greatest challenge in the Rugby world…all the political stuff…very intriguing…coupled with the need to make adjustments to the way the Bok play….yep massive challenge
@ BrumbiesBoy:
Fair enough BB, but it’s been happening for 20 years now and in all walks of life in SA, so it’s not as if it should be a huge surprise.
I can’t for one moment believe that any coach that is interviewed for that post isn’t asked about his transformation plans, and I’m convinced that they do a huge song and dance about how important it is for them and how they support it 100%
Until push comes to shove and they revert back to their laager mentality, then act all surprised when certain groups start asking questions.
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