Ciaran Fitzgerald

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Ciaran Fitzgerald (born 4 June 1952) in Loughrea, County Galway is a former Irish rugby union footballer.

Fitzgearld began playing rugby whilst at St Joseph's College, Garbally where he was chosen to play hooker by a teacher, then Fr, now Bishop John Kirby. Continuing as a hooker, he rose to prominence in the game and went on to captain the Ireland team to the Triple Crown in 1983 and 1985, and the British and Irish Lions on their losing tour to New Zealand in 1983.

His debut test match was against Australia on 3 June, 1979. Scotland were his final test opponents on the 15th March, 1986. In total, he received 22 competitive and 3 friendly caps for the National Team. He scored once, a try against Wales, in 1980.

1979: Australia W 27-12 Brisbane

1979: Australia W 9-3 Sydney

1980: England L 24-9 Twickenham

1980: Scotland W 22-15 Lansdowne Road

1980: France L 19-18 Parc des Princes

1980: Wales W 21-7 Lansdowne Road

1982: Wales W 20-12 Lansdowne Road

1982: England W 16-15 Twickenham

1982: Scotland W 21-12 Lansdowne Road

1982: France L 22-9 Parc des Princes

1983: Scotland W 15-13 Murrayfield

1983: France W 22-16 Lansdowne Road

1983: Wales L 23-9 Cardiff Arms Park

1983: England W 25-15 Lansdowne Road

1984: France L 25-12 Parc des Princes

1984: Wales L 18-9 Lansdowne Road

1984: Australia L 16-9 Lansdowne Road

1985: Scotland W 18-15 Murrayfield

1985: France D 15-15 Lansdowne Road

1985: Wales W 21-9 Cardiff Arms Park

1985: England W 13-10 Lansdowne Road

1986: France L 29-9 Parc des Princes

1986: Wales L 19-12 Lansdowne Road

1986: England L 25-20 Twickenham

1986: Scotland L 10-9 Lansdowne Road

1984: Australia L 16-9 Lansdowne Road

1985: Scotland W 18-15 Murrayfield

1985: France D 15-15 Lansdowne Road

1985: Wales W 21-9 Cardiff Arms Park

1985: England W 13-10 Lansdowne Road

1986: France L 29-9 Parc des Princes

1986: Wales L 19-12 Lansdowne Road

1986: England L 25-20 Twickenham

1986: Scotland L 10-9 Lansdowne Road

He captained the British and Irish Lions for four tests against the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, in the 1983 tour. All four test matches were lost.

Playing in the amateur era, Fitzgearld also maintained a career in the Irish army, and at one point was aide de camp to the President, Dr Patrick Hillery.

[edit] External links

• Sporting heroes
• 1983 New Zealand British & Irish Lions Tour
• [1]
• [http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_6629.php
• [2]

v • d • e British and Irish Lions - 1983 New Zealand tour Forwards Bainbridge • Beattie • Boyle • Butler • Calder • Colclough • Deans • Fitzgerald (c) • Jeavons • Jones • Lenihan • McLoughlin • Milne • Norster • O'Driscoll • Paxton • Price • Squire • Stephens • Winterbottom Backs Ackerman • Baird • Campbell • Carleton • Evans • Hare • Holmes • Irwin • Kiernan • Laidlaw • MacNeill • Melville • Ringland • Rutherford • Smith • Woodward Coach Telfer

Preceded by Jim Davidson

Irish national rugby coach 1990- 1992

Succeeded by Gerry Murphy