By Cara Simpson, Coventry Telegraph
March 25 2009

AN 87-year-old priest from Coventry watched Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam triumph with tears in his eyes. Monsignor Tom Gavin, ex-parish priest of St Thomas More Church in Styvechale, once swopped his robes for the Irish jersey, playing in Irish Triple Crown-winning side of 1949. Mgr Gavin, who still lives in Styvechale, says he was incredibly proud of the squad as he reminisced about his own short stint playing international rugby union.

He said: “It brought back all the memories of my rugby days and made me want to play for Ireland again.

“I wished I was back on the pitch, but obviously I realise all that’s beyond me now.”

The 87-year-old, who was born in Coventry of Irish parents, learned to play rugby during his schooling at Staffordshire Cotton College. It was a sport he continued at Cambridge University and he also played for London Irish, Moseley, Coventry and Nuneaton.

Mgr Gavin, who helped organise the Pope’s 1982 visit to Coventry, had a short-lived career with the team, playing twice for the Emerald Isle. His two appearances came in 1949 when Ireland lost 16-9 to France but beat England 14-5.

He is the only ordained priest ever to play international rugby and was invited to Lansdowne Road in 1999, where the then Ireland team met the French, to mark the half-century since the Ireland’s twin Triple Crown success.

After his second and final match for the side, Mgr Gavin’s position as centre was filled by Noel Henderson, who went on to win 40 caps for the team.

He said: “I think my team-mates thought it was amusing that I was a priest at the time, but we all got on with it. I was treated like everyone else.

“I look back and wish I could have played rugby a bit longer because I didn’t have much time after that, I was too busy with the church.

“When I watched the match on Saturday I was praying that they would win and was delighted when it happened because of all the happy memories it brought.

“It was a tough game when I played, I remember it being really hard work, which made the moment more rewarding when we finally won.”

Ireland's Grand Slam brings back happy memories

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 25/03/2009 06:28

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
25/03/2009 06:28

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