- Syd Millar began his enjoying profession with native membership Ballymena
- He was capped 37 instances for Eire and made 9 Take a look at appearances for Lions
- He coached the Lions on their undefeated 22-match tour of South Africa in 1974
Former Eire and British and Irish Lions prop Syd Millar has died aged 89.
Millar, born in Ballymena, was capped 37 instances for Eire and made 9 Take a look at appearances for the Lions in a profitable enjoying profession.
He then coached the Lions in 1974, once they went undefeated of their 22-match tour of South Africa, and led Eire from 1973 to 1975.
Millar grew to become president of the Irish Rugby Soccer Union in 1995 earlier than being named chairman of the Worldwide Rugby Board in 2003. He gave up each roles in 2007.
The Lions stated in an announcement: ‘There aren’t many individuals who’ve given as a lot to the Lions, or our sport, as the good Syd Millar.
Former Eire and British and Irish Lions prop Syd Millar has died aged 89
Millar was capped 37 instances for Eire and made 9 Take a look at appearances for the Lions
‘Three excursions as a participant, one as a sequence profitable coach and one other as a supervisor. He additionally served as a committee member, selector and chairman. All of it provides as much as an incredible 9 excursions over six a long time.
‘All our ideas are together with his household and mates. He might be enormously missed.’
Millar began his enjoying profession with native membership Ballymena, who stated on X – previously generally known as Twitter – on Sunday: ‘It’s with deep remorse that the Board of Administrators of Ballymena RFC inform members of the passing of extremely esteemed member Syd Millar.
‘On behalf of everybody linked with Ballymena RFC we prolong our honest condolences to his daughter Lesley, sons Peter and Johnny and household.’
World Rugby chairman Sir Invoice Beaumont paid tribute to Millar as ‘a large of the sport on the world stage’.
Former England captain Beaumont added on the official World Rugby web site: ‘As influential within the boardroom as he was good as a participant, coach and supervisor, Syd was a pure chief and visionary, somebody who cared deeply in regards to the sport, its folks, values and future.
‘Syd led the game by way of a few of its most defining moments, driving ahead the enlargement and improvement of the game past its heartlands. He was an inspiration to me, and lots of aspiring directors, and he might be enormously missed.
‘All our ideas are with the Millar household and mates at this troublesome time.’
