Lions

The International Rugby Board on Tuesday inducted nine legends into the IRB Hall of Fame at a special ceremony at Rugby School in England, celebrating the rich history of British & Irish Lions tours to South Africa.

The Inductees spanned the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and are, in order of their induction:
Induction No 12: William E. Maclagan (Scotland and British)
No.13: Barry H. Heatlie (South Africa)
No.14: Benjamin L. Osler (South Africa)
No.15: Clifford I. Morgan (Wales and Lions)
No.16: Sir Anthony J.F. O'Reilly (Ireland and Lions)
No.17: Frederick C.H. du Preez (South Africa)
No.18: Sydney Millar (Ireland and Lions)
No.19: William J. McBride (Ireland and Lions)
No.20: Ian R. McGeechan (Scotland and Lions)

Members of the public were invited to vote on nominees from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, giving fans around the world an opportunity to recognise their most treasured players.

These votes were then compiled before the IRB Hall of Fame Induction Panel comprising Don Cameron (New Zealand), Gerald Davies (Wales), Henri Garcia (France), Norman Mair (Scotland), Pablo Mamone (Argentina) and Nigel Starmer-Smith (England) selected the nine legends to be inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2009.

"It has been a great pleasure to return to Rugby School and this historic setting has provided the inductees with yet another memorable occasion in their illustrious Rugby careers," said IRB Vice-Chairman Bill Beaumont.

"It has been my great honour and privilege to present the inductees and their representatives whose names are synonymous with the proud history and relationship between South Africa and the Lions."

Previous IRB Hall of Fame inductees:
2006 - William Webb Ellis and Rugby School
2007 – Pierre de Coubertin, Wilson Whineray, Danie Craven, Gareth Edwards and John Eales.
2008 – 1888 Natives Team of New Zealand and Joe Warbrick, Melrose RFC and Ned Haig, Jack Kyle, Hugo Porta and Philippe Sella.