Ireland Rugby Team Ranking.

IRELAND PROUDLY SITS AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD RUGBY RANKING. HERE WE LOOK AT THE GREAT JACK KYLE FROM THE 1948 TEAM.

Ireland proudly sit at the top of the World Rugby Rankings. Following their famous series victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand. They followed this up with a tight victory of the South African Springboks last weekend.

Their next opponents are Fiji are the visitors to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 12th November, Kick-Off 1.00pm. This will be only the fifth time that the two teams have met in a Test match. Ireland have won all four previous encounters. Most recently scraping past Fiji 23-20 during the 2017 autumn internationals.

Ireland Rugby Team of 1948 – Jack Kyle

In this weeks addition of the Ellis Rugby Blog, we look at the great career of an Irish legend Jack Kyle. Who helped lead Ireland, along with Captain Karl Mullen to their first ever Grand Slam in 1948.
Jack Kyle was a graceful player. He appeared to float past tacklers with a deceptive change of pace and teased his opponents with clever tactical kicks. Kyle was born in Belfast in 1926. And was one of five children to John and Elizabeth. His father, a baker from Derry,. Worked for the Edinburgh-based North British Rubber Company. The company produced everything from tyres to golf balls to rubber boots.

High Ranking Fly Half Injury Created Opportunity

There was no family history in rugby. But Jack’s elder brother. Eric got an Irish trial and played for Ulster. His basic skills were learnt at Belfast Royal Academy. But, his talent emerged during his years as a medic at Queen’s University, Belfast. He played for the Ulster Schools at fullback. But, prominent Fly-Half Derek Monteith, broke a leg and Kyle switched to number 10. Kyle attributed his exceptional speed off the mark to his training methods. “I practised being fast over 25 yards,” he said, “and always carried the ball in training.”

Ireland Rugby Team 1948 Grand Slam

His helped Ireland to three Five Nations titles. Including two Triple Crowns and a Grand Slam. But, Kyle’s outstanding performances in Ireland’s first Grand Slam (1948) in what became a golden era for the national team. They won another Triple Crown in 1949. And two years later a Five Nations Championship.
Asked how Ireland celebrated the Grand Slam. Kyle recalled: “After the game we just had a meal at one of the local restaurants with the Welsh team. And then some of the players did their own thing. If I can remember I just went home afterwards. Looking back on it now, it was a more remarkable occasion than any of us realised at the time.”

British Lions Rugby Team Legend

In 1950, he went on tour to New Zealand and Australia. With the party stopping off in Ceylon to play a match on the way home. They were his last games for the Lions. He played in all six Tests. Scoring a try in the first Test against the All Blacks. And another against the Wallabies.
The New Zealand Rugby Almanac . Described him in the wake of the 1950 Lions Tour to New Zealand and Australia. As “an excellent team man, faultless in his handling, able to send out lengthy and accurate passes, and adept at making play for his supports,”.

Ireland Rugby Team Ranking one of the greatest

Former Irish Times rugby correspondent Paul MacWeeney. Famously celebrated his virtuoso performance against France in a Five Nations Championship performance in 1953. With an amended version of ‘ The Scarlet Pimpernel’ –

They seek him here, they seek him there. Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. That paragon of pace and guile. That damned elusive Jackie Kyle.

Celebrating the 1948 Ireland Rugby Team

Jack Kyle was instrumental in steering Ireland to their first ever Five Nations Grand Slam. We celebrate this great achievement with our retro Ireland Rugby Shirt 1948 Grand Slam. In addition, you can view the retro footage of this unique group of Irish International Rugby players HERE.