Willie Duggan
Encyclopedia
William Patrick Duggan is a former Ireland
international rugby union player. He won 41 Irish Caps, the first in 1975 and finished his international career in 1984 as captain. He toured New Zealand
in 1977 with the British and Irish Lions
, and at the time played club rugby for Blackrock College RFC
.
Willie was widely regarded as one of the hard men of world rugby rugby at the time and was one of the few players who garnered respect from the southern hemisphere players. He was famed for not enjoying training and was a heavy smoker. This attitude was entirely different on the pitch as Willie was widely regarded as the premier No. 8 in Europe at the time which was reflected in his being picked for the Irish and British lions in 1977. In January 1977, he became, along with Wales' Geoff Wheel
, the first player to be sent off in a Five Nations
match. According to fellow player Moss Keane
, Duggan did not consider himself to have been sent off, simply being asked by the referee "would he mind leaving the field", to which he replied "Sure not at all. I was buggered anyway".
On one occasion was smoking a cigarette as he ran on to the field to play against France, passing the cigarette to referee Allan Hosie, who was pictured holding the cigarette in the television coverage. He was once told by a coach that if he gave up the smokes he would be faster around the pitch. Typical of Willie's wit he replied "but then I would spend most of the match offside".
Willie lives and works in Kilkenny, where he runs the lighting shop that he took over from his father (Willie Duggan Lighting Ltd.), but is still a huge supporter of the game and is one of the most revered and loved rugby players in the history of the Irish game.
Ireland 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...
international rugby union player. He won 41 Irish Caps, the first in 1975 and finished his international career in 1984 as captain. He toured New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1977 with 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 at the time played club rugby for Blackrock College RFC
Blackrock College RFC
Blackrock College Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club located in Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 by former pupils of Blackrock College...
.
Willie was widely regarded as one of the hard men of world rugby rugby at the time and was one of the few players who garnered respect from the southern hemisphere players. He was famed for not enjoying training and was a heavy smoker. This attitude was entirely different on the pitch as Willie was widely regarded as the premier No. 8 in Europe at the time which was reflected in his being picked for the Irish and British lions in 1977. In January 1977, he became, along with Wales' Geoff Wheel
Geoff Wheel
Geoff Wheel is a former Wales international rugby union player who attained 32 international caps. A lock-forward, he played club rugby for Swansea RFC....
, the first player to be sent off in a Five Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
match. According to fellow player Moss Keane
Moss Keane
Maurice Ignatius "Moss" Keane was a rugby union footballer who played for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.-Life and career:...
, Duggan did not consider himself to have been sent off, simply being asked by the referee "would he mind leaving the field", to which he replied "Sure not at all. I was buggered anyway".
On one occasion was smoking a cigarette as he ran on to the field to play against France, passing the cigarette to referee Allan Hosie, who was pictured holding the cigarette in the television coverage. He was once told by a coach that if he gave up the smokes he would be faster around the pitch. Typical of Willie's wit he replied "but then I would spend most of the match offside".
Willie lives and works in Kilkenny, where he runs the lighting shop that he took over from his father (Willie Duggan Lighting Ltd.), but is still a huge supporter of the game and is one of the most revered and loved rugby players in the history of the Irish game.
External links
- Willie Duggan at sporting-heroes.net