Tom Kiernan: Proud Irishman, proud Lion, and the saviour of European rugby

Tom Kiernan leads Ireland out, ahead of Cecil Pedlow, Sid Millar, Paddy Dwyer, and Ray Hunter, for the 1963 Five Nations clash with France.

Tom Kiernan’s old friends remembered him as the man whose unbending leadership averted a global crisis during the volcanic eruptions over professionalism.

Kiernan, who died on Thursday, had captained Ireland 25 times over a period of 10 years, led the Lions throughout a four-Test series in South Africa, and coached Munster on that blessed day in Limerick when they reduced the All Blacks to their last, literally pointless defeat on this side of the equator.