Kilkenny Rugby Club has been recognised as a British & Irish Lions “Club of Origin” due to the contribution made by local legend Wille Duggan.
The organisation has released a video about his time with the Lions in 1977 featuring his son Willie Duggan Jnr and others.
The article on the Lion’s website states:
Fearless, uncompromising rugby great for The British & Irish Lions and Ireland, Willie Duggan will forever be remembered as a hero at Kilkenny Rugby Club.
Duggan toured New Zealand with the Lions in 1977, with the ferocious No.8 playing in all four tests and scoring the tourists’ only try in the 19-7 defeat in the third Test in Dunedin
The Lions lost the series 3-1 despite their forwards dominating but Duggan left a lasting impression on the All Blacks, who paid tribute to their ‘great rival’ upon his death in 2017.
And his legacy continues to live on in Kilkenny, where he was born and raised before spending many years playing and coaching at his local club, becoming ingrained in the community.
Watch the video below
“Willie as we all know was a tough fella, this guy was Kilkenny through and through”
A true great for #LionsRugby, Willie Duggan will forever be remembered as a hero at @KilkennyRFC.
They are the subject of our latest Lions Origin Club feature, in association with @canterburyNZ
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 14, 2021