Michael D, BOD and ROG – Tributes to ‘thorough gentleman’ Jack Kyle

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PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins, Brian O’Driscoll and Ronan O’Gara have led the tributes to Irish rugby giant Jack Kyle who died today aged 88.

President Higgins said: “Jack Kyle will be fondly remembered as one of our greatest ever rugby players and sportspeople, who played with such distinction for Ireland and the Lions.

“He also made a significant contribution to medicine, working tirelessly for many decades as surgeon in Zambia, before returning to Ireland.

“All of us enjoyed watching his return to Cardiff in 2009, where he witnessed the Irish team win the Grand Slam after a sixty-one year wait. Hopefully he was able to enjoy Ireland’s outstanding success in the three recent Autumn Internationals – a fitting testament to him”

Kyle was part of Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning team of 1948 and in 2002, was voted the country’s greatest ever rugby player.