New IRFU president Lyons ‘honoured’

JOHN LYONS yesterday assumed the office as the 121st President of the Irish Rugby Football Union.

In being nominated to the highest office in Irish rugby, the accountant, from Sandycove, Co Dublin, enhances a proud record by the Bective Rangers club, who also provided IRFU Presidents, John Hamilton O’Conor (1911-12), William G Fallon (1949-50) and Michael Cuddy (1993-94).

The new IRFU President said: “I am very honoured to assume the office as President of the IRFU, not alone for myself and my family, but also for my club Bective Rangers. This is a very challenging period in the history of the Union as we enter a season with a new coach and management team and many excellent up and coming young players blending with the more experienced ones.

“The year ahead also offers further great challenges to our professional Provincial teams, including the defence of the Heineken European Cup by Munster and the Magners League title by Leinster. All the while, of course, the Union remains steadfast in its determination to ensure the development of the game at grassroots level and to the objective of advancing the status of our clubs I am fully committed."