Old Wesley old boy becomes IRFU president

Phil Orr

Irish rugby great Philip Orr has been elected president at the annual council meeting of the Irish Rugby Football Union, held on 14th July.

This is a great honour not just for Orr, but for Donnybrook based rugby club, Old Wesley, whose former members Billy Hinton, George Hamlet and Henry Anderson, all previously held the prestigious post.

Orr joined Old Wesley in the early 1970’s from Dublin University, winning his first international cap against France in 1976 and going on to make 58 appearances for his country, culminating in the inaugural World Cup in 1987. He played on the Irish team that won the Triple Crown in 1982 and 1985, and toured with the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand in 1977 and South Africa in 1980.

Orr was a regular first choice player for Old Wesley and amongst many achievements captained the club to win the Leinster Senior Cup in 1985. He was also President of Old Wesley during its centenary year in 1991.

By: Paul O’Rourke