Two Irish Men Inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame
21/06/2007
NEW INDUCTEES TO HALL OF FAME
Ten new legends of the game are to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
The 2007 inductees include nine players and one writer, the legendary New Zealand sports writer Sir Terry McLean, who passed away in 2004.
The players are: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), Graham Mourie (New Zealand), Ieuan Evans (Wales/British Isles), Danie Gerber (South Africa),
Tom Kiernan (Ireland/ British Isles), Jason Leonard (England/British Isles),
Fergus Slattery (Ireland/British Isles), Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa) and the late Bennie Osler (South Africa).
The International Rugby Hall of Fame Trust was created as a charitable trust in New Zealand in 1995 and the first induction took place two years later which included All Black Colin Meads, Lions legends Willie John McBride and Gareth Edwards, and the French fullback Serge Blanco.
It was designed to honour players, coaches or any individual who has made a major contribution to the game of rugby union, while players have to be retired from international test rugby for at least 12 months to qualify for the initial voting process.