20 Facts About Syd Millar

John Sydney Millar was born on 23 May 1934 and is a former rugby union prop from Northern Ireland who played international rugby for Ireland and the British Lions.

Syd Millar became chairman of the Irish Rugby Union in 1995, and from 2003 until 2007 was the chairman of the International Rugby Board.

Syd Millar was born in Ballymena in Northern Ireland, the eldest of 6 children.

Syd Millar first played for Ireland in 1958, and went on to win 37 caps as a prop.

Syd Millar played 39 games for the British and Irish Lions, including 9 internationals, on 3 tours.

Related searches

Syd Millar appeared 10 times for the Barbarians, including a win over the 1961 South African team.

Syd Millar used information from ex-pats he knew in South Africa in his preparation.

Terry O'Connor has said: “In my view Syd Millar has always been under-rated as a coach and overshadowed by Carwyn James who was in charge of the 1971 team.

Syd Millar has proved over the years a master of forward tactics and in 1974 forged the finest pack ever to visit South Africa.

Syd Millar was the manager of the Irish national side at the 1987 World Cup.

Syd Millar became the president of the Ulster Rugby Union in 1985, and was appointed as one of the representatives of the Irish Rugby Football Union to the IRB Council in 1992.

Syd Millar became president of the IRFU in 1995, and was chairman of the British and Irish Lions from 1999 to 2002.

Syd Millar was appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Board of the IRB on 16 September 2002, replacing New Zealander Rob Fisher.

Syd Millar took on the role of interim chairman after the death of Pugh in 2003.

Syd Millar was elected as the IRB chairman in late 2003 to a four-year term commencing in 2004.

Syd Millar presided over a governance restructure and new strategic plan for the IRB, and was influential in the continued lobbying for Rugby sevens inclusion in the Summer Olympics.

Syd Millar stepped down from his posts at the IRB and the IRFU following the 2007 World Cup, and was succeeded as IRB chairman by Bernard Lapasset.

Syd Millar was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Ulster in 1992, and was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2003.

Syd Millar was made a CBE in 2005 having previously been appoined MBE.

On 12 December 2007 Syd Millar was appointed to the Legion d'honneur, France's highest decoration, at a ceremony in Ballymena Rugby Club, by Bernard Lapasset, his successor as IRB Chairman.