Throughout the history of the game Ireland has always been one of the top-notch national teams to compete internationally. Along its glorious history with the Irish national team, also known as the “Wolfhounds”, many players were distinguished for their physical, intellectual and leadership skills, but only a few of them are being considered undiscussed masters of the game.
Source: WalesOnline
Here we have a glimpse of what the Irish Rugby wall of fame looks like for us:
1. Brian O’Driscoll (1999-2014)
Considered by many as the most iconic Irish player of all time and one of the greatest of the game, O’Driscoll ended his career with a record 133 Tests for Ireland, 83 of them as Ireland’s national team captain. Moreover, he scored a total of 46 tries, setting another Ireland record. He can be summarised as: strength, pace, agility, skill, leadership all in one person. A true master of the game!
2. Paul O’Connell (2002-2015)
Although he played during O’Driscoll Ireland’s leadership, he surely was the pack leader and forwards captain for much of his career. A colossus of a rugby player with true leadership skills. He finished his career with 108 caps, retiring as one of the most admired Irish players in the history of the sport.
3. Keith Wood (1994-2003)
The Munsterman won the World Rugby Player award of 2001, one of just two Irish players able to win this prestigious prize. He was distinguished for his kicking game, skill from hand, pace, and extremely solid work ethic, being considered by many as one of the greatest of his era.
4. Jackie Kyle (1946-1958)
From many people of his generation he was viewed as the best playmaker in rugby’s history. Born in Belfast, Kyle played for Ireland on 46 occasions. He was nominated in 2002 as the greatest Irish player of all time by the IRFU. Gifted with many abilities, Kyle was able to compete as a tactical, footballing fly-half, but also as a side-stepping, running one.
5. Johnny Sexton (2009- )
Even though he is not retired yet, we couldn’t end this list without mentioning the most iconic Irish rugby player of the last decade. A true competitive animal, a winner, and an extremely talented player. There is no doubt that he has been one of the major reasons for Ireland's latest national team successes.
This was our rank for the most recognized Irish players of all time, let us know your opinions in the comment section below.
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References:
Cantillon, M. (2020) “Rugby Union's Top 10: The best players for Ireland over the years” Accessible at: https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/11974728/rugby-unions-top-10-the-best-players-for-ireland-over-the-years (Accessed: 04 December 2022)
Thomas et al, (2015) “The greatest Ireland XV in history... From brilliant Brian O'Driscoll to warrior Willie John McBride” Accessible at: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/greatest-ireland-xv-history-brilliant-8779346 (Accessed: 04 December 2022)
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