Kyle is 'greatest ever Irish player'

Jack Kyle has been named as the greatest ever Irish rugby player in a public poll.

Out-half Kyle, capped 46 times and architect of Ireland’s only ever Grand Slam achieved in 1948, takes his place alongside other such legendary stars as Tom Kiernan, Tony O’Reilly, Mike Gibson, Ray McLoughlin, Willie John McBride and Fergus Slattery.

The Lansdowne Legends XV chosen by public poll in conjunction with a panel of rugby experts is: -

Tom Kiernan; Tony O’Reilly, Brian O’Driscoll, Mike Gibson, Simon Geoghegan; Jack Kyle, Peter Stringer; Ray McLoughlin, Keith Wood, Phil Orr, Willie John McBride, Donal Lenihan, Fergus Slattery, John O’Driscoll, Willie Duggan.

Additional award category nominations were:

Greatest Ever Irish Player: Jack Kyle

Greatest Ever Irish Captain: Karl Mullen

Greatest Ever Ireland Coach: Syd Millar

Greatest Ever Ireland Attacker: Mike Gibson

Greatest Ever Ireland Defender: Jerry Walsh

Greatest Ever Ireland Try: Trevor Ringland V. Scotland 1985

Greatest Ever Ireland Kicker: Ollie Campbell

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ronnie Dawson

Spirit of Irish Rugby: Ciaran Fitzgerald

Bravery Award: Philip Rainey, David Irwin, Nigel Carr.

The Lansdowne Legends awartds will be celebrated at a banquet in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on May 17.