Tony Ward (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Joseph Patrick Ward (born 8 October 1954, Dublin, Ireland
), commonly referred to as Tony Ward, was an Irish rugby union
and soccer
player during the 1970s and 1980s. He played rugby as a fly-half for, among others, Munster
, Leinster
, , the British and Irish Lions
and the Barbarians
. Although better known as a rugby player, he also played football for both Shamrock Rovers
and Limerick United. In 1981 he played for Limerick United in the UEFA Cup against Southampton
and in 1982 he helped them win the FAI Cup
. He also played schoolboys football with Liam Brady
.
He made his Rovers debut on 2 December 1973. In his last season at Glenmalure Park
1974/75 he scored 6 league goals.
between 1978 and 1987. He made his international debut against Scotland
at Lansdowne Road
on 21 January 1978 at the age of 23. He helped Ireland win 12-9 and during the 1978 Five Nations Championship
he scored 38 points, a record for a debutant. He made one major tour with Ireland, to Australia in 1979
. During his career as an Ireland international he scored 113 points, including 29 penalties, 7 conversions and 4 drop goals. He played his last game for Ireland on 3 June 1987 in a 32-9 win over Tonga
during the 1987 Rugby World Cup
.
, scoring two drop goals and a conversion in a 12-0 victory at Thomond Park
on 31 October 1978. To date Munster are the only Irish team ever to beat the All-Blacks.
during the 1980 South Africa tour
. He set a Lions Test record by scoring 18 points, including 5 penalties and a drop goal. It was also a record for any player against South Africa
.
tournament .
, and as a rugby commentator for Raidió Teilifís Éireann
(RTÉ). While playing rugby he had been a geography and PE teacher in St Andrews secondary school.
Tony was, during the '90's, a highly valued and well respected coach for St Andrews School in Booterstown
, Ireland.
He constantly downplayed his fame and success and wouldn't even be in the room if another coach played video footage of his legendary tries.
Limerick United
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
), commonly referred to as Tony Ward, was an Irish rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player during the 1970s and 1980s. He played rugby as a fly-half for, among others, Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
, Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
, , the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
and the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. Although better known as a rugby player, he also played football for both Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
and Limerick United. In 1981 he played for Limerick United in the UEFA Cup against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and in 1982 he helped them win the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
. He also played schoolboys football with Liam Brady
Liam Brady
Liam Brady is a former Irish association football player, and former assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team....
.
He made his Rovers debut on 2 December 1973. In his last season at Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park, often simply known as "Milltown", was a football stadium on the Southside of Dublin city in Ireland. Located in the suburb of Milltown, it was home to Shamrock Rovers from 1926 to 1987, when it was sold to property developers by the club's directors...
1974/75 he scored 6 league goals.
Ireland
Ward won 19 caps for IrelandIreland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
between 1978 and 1987. He made his international debut against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
on 21 January 1978 at the age of 23. He helped Ireland win 12-9 and during the 1978 Five Nations Championship
1978 Five Nations Championship
The 1978 Five Nations Championship was the forty-ninth series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the eighty-fourth series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship. Ten matches were played...
he scored 38 points, a record for a debutant. He made one major tour with Ireland, to Australia in 1979
1979 Ireland rugby union tour of Australia
The 1979 Ireland rugby union tour of Australia was a series of eight matches played by the Ireland national rugby union team in Australia in May and June 1979....
. During his career as an Ireland international he scored 113 points, including 29 penalties, 7 conversions and 4 drop goals. He played his last game for Ireland on 3 June 1987 in a 32-9 win over Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
during the 1987 Rugby World Cup
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
.
Munster
Ward also inspired Munster to a legendary win over New ZealandHistory of rugby union matches between Munster and New Zealand
Munster Rugby has a strong tradition of competitiveness against touring rugby teams. They have played the All Blacks, the national team of New Zealand, 8 times since 1905...
, scoring two drop goals and a conversion in a 12-0 victory at Thomond Park
Thomond Park
Thomond Park is a stadium located in Limerick in the Irish province of Munster. The stadium is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union and count Munster Rugby, Shannon RFC and UL Bohemian RFC as tenants. The capacity of the stadium is 26,500 following its large scale redevelopment in...
on 31 October 1978. To date Munster are the only Irish team ever to beat the All-Blacks.
British and Irish Lions
Ward also played one Test game for the British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
during the 1980 South Africa tour
1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1980 the British Lions rugby union team toured South Africa . The tour was not a success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the first three tests before salvaging some pride with a win in the fourth...
. He set a Lions Test record by scoring 18 points, including 5 penalties and a drop goal. It was also a record for any player against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
.
Awards
Ward was the first ever recipient of a European Rugby Player Of The Year award for his performances in the 1979 Five NationsSix Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
tournament .
Journalism
Since retiring as a sportsman, Ward has worked as a sports journalist, most notably with the Irish IndependentIrish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
, and as a rugby commentator for Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
(RTÉ). While playing rugby he had been a geography and PE teacher in St Andrews secondary school.
Coach
Ward is currently involved in St. Gerards School in Bray, where he is coaching the Senior Rugby team and has been doing so for a number of years now.Tony was, during the '90's, a highly valued and well respected coach for St Andrews School in Booterstown
Booterstown
Booterstown,, is a coastal townland and civil parish, situated in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area of the former County Dublin, about south of the city of Dublin in Ireland.-Location and access:...
, Ireland.
He constantly downplayed his fame and success and wouldn't even be in the room if another coach played video footage of his legendary tries.
Limerick United
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
- Winner
- 1982: 1