A legendary British and Irish Lions, Ireland, Barbarians, Ulster and Ballymena player who successfully moved into coaching and then became an administrator.
Syd Millar’s Ireland debut came against France in April 1958 and the prop won 37 caps in a 12-year international career.
Millar’s association with the Lions spanned six decades as a player, coach, manager and chairman of selectors. Of his 39 appearances for the Lions as a player, nine of them came in tests. He captained the side twice.
In 1974, he coached Ireland to the Five Nations Championship and then led the Lions on the unbeaten “Invincibles” tour to South Africa.
A devoted IRFU and IRB committee man and former IRFU President (1995-96), Millar was elected IRB and Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman and presided over two outstanding tournaments in 2003 and 2007.
He had the Légion d'Honneur bestowed upon him by the French government and was awarded an MBE in 1988.
Millar’s contribution to rugby football has been nothing short of phenomenal – from player, coach, manager and lately world class administrator who presided over two outstanding Rugby World Cups and leaves the Game well equipped to continue its global expansion in the professional era -Gavin Mairs