Danie and Joost are Hall of Famers

Ten rugby legends will be inducted into Rugby’s Hall of Fame in London on 9th October this year. Among them are three Springbok greats Danie Gerber, Joost van der Westhuizen and Bennie Osler. Jonah Lomu of New Zealand will also be inducted.

The complete list of new inductees:

Wales & British Lions: Ieuan Evans
South Africa: Danie Gerber, Bennie Osler, Joost van der Westhuizen
England & British Isles: Jason Leonard
Ireland & British Isles: Tom Kiernan, Fergus Slattery
New Zealand: Jonah Lomu, Graham Mourie, Sir Terry McLean

The statement from the Rugby Hall of Fame reads:

“The nine players and one writer have been elected after a rigorous induction process involving a screening committee of selected international rugby writers and board of trustees. The 2007 Inductees have served their countries both on and off the field with courage and vision. Their great feats are now being acknowledged by their induction into the Hall of Fame.

“As a player, Leonard reflected all that was good about the game at every level. Initially a great club man with Saracens and then Harlequins, he went on to play 14 seasons of international rugby.

“With England he shared in Triple Crown, Grand Slam and Five and Six Nations triumphs, gained a Rugby World Cup-winner’s medal, and became the first wearer of the red rose to play 100 tests before finishing his career with 114 caps, still a record for his country.

“Another of this year’s inductees who will need no introduction is the All Black icon Jonah Lomu. His barnstorming arrival in test rugby at the age of 19 in 1994 helped to redefine wing play at the top level.

“There will be no shortage of other serial test try-scorers at this October’s Induction.

“Joost van der Westhuizen scored 38 tries in 89 tests for South Africa from the scrumhalf position and is widely regarded as one of the best and certainly most feared scrumhalves of his generation.

“Likewise, Ieuan Evans of Wales and another triple Lion touched down 33 times for his country as well as setting a new national record with 28 games as captain.

“The Hall of Fame continues to recognise great personalities from across the generations. Thus, two posthumous awards will be to a Springbok captain of the 1920s and 1930s, Bennie Osler, and the distinguished Kiwi journalist and author of 32 books, Sir Terry McLean.

“From a more recent vintage of great players comes another formidable Springbok, Danie Gerber, a world-class centre of the 1980s with 19 tries in 24 tests who symbolised his country’s successful re-emergence on the international scene.

“As well as Jonah Lomu and Sir Terry McLean, the enduring influence and quality of New Zealand rugby is further recognised by the induction of Graham Mourie, a marvellously constructive flanker who led his country in 19 of his 21 tests including a grand slam tour of Europe in 1978.

“And the Lions pedigree doesn’t start and finish with Jason Leonard and Ieuan Evans. Two legendary Irish Lions are also to be inducted. Tom Kiernan set new marks for caps, points and captaincy in 13 seasons in the green jersey and toured South Africa twice with the Lions, including as captain in 1968.

“Kiernan’s career was almost replicated by the dynamic flanker Fergus Slattery another captain of Ireland in 17 of his 61 tests and a leading role on two Lions tours that included the historic and invincible expedition to South Africa in 1974.

“The 2007 inductees will join an International Rugby Hall of Fame that currently comprises 55 of the greatest names in the history of the game.

“The International Rugby Hall of Fame Trust was created as a charitable trust in New Zealand in 1995 and the first induction took place two years later.

“The Trust is independent of any rugby body and its nomination and voting processes are vigorous. The short list for the biennial induction is compiled via nominations from 35 senior rugby journalists from all over the world, and the final list of ten is identified by polling the 12 trustees of the International Rugby Hall of Fame, many of them established inductees in their own right.

“Designed to honour players, coaches or any individual who has made a major contribution to the game of rugby union, players have to be retired from international test rugby for 12 months to qualify for the initial voting process.”

The complete list of International Rugby Hall of Fame inductees:

Argentina: Hugo Porta

Australia: Ken Catchpole, David Campese, John Eales, Mark Ella, Nick Farr-Jones, Tim Horan, Michael Lynagh

England: Bill Beaumont, Martin Johnson, Jason Leonard, Wavell Wakefield

France: André Boniface, Serge Blanco, Jo Maso, Jean Prat, Jean-Pierre Rives, Philippe Sella

Ireland: Mike Gibson, Tom Kiernan, Jack Kyle, Willie-John McBride, Syd Millar, Tony O’Reilly, Fergus Slattery, Keith Wood

New Zealand: Fred Allen, Don Clarke, Sean Fitzpatrick, Grant Fox, Dave Gallaher, Michael Jones, Ian Kirkpatrick, John Kirwan, Brian Lochore, Jonah Lomu, Terry McLean, Colin Meads, Graham Mourie, George Nepia, Wilson Whineray

Scotland: Gordon Brown, Gavin Hastings, Andy Irvine, Ian McGeechan, Bill McLaren

South Africa: Naas Botha, Danie Craven, Morné du Plessis, Frik du Preez, Danie Gerber, Hennie Muller, Bennie Osler, François Pienaar, Joost van der Westhuizen

Wales: Phil Bennett, Gerald Davies, Mervyn Davies, Gareth Edwards, Ieuan Evans, Carwyn James, Barry John, Cliff Morgan, Gywn Nicholls, JPR Williams