Willie Duggan

William Patrick Duggan (born 12 March 1950) is a former Ireland international rugby union player. He won 42 Irish Caps, the first in 1975 and finished his international career in 1984 as captain. He toured New Zealand in 1977 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for Blackrock College RFC.Willie was widely regarded as one of the hard men of world rugby rugby at the time and was one of the few players who garnered respect from the southern hemisphere players. He was famed for not enjoying training and was a heavy smoker. This attitude was entirely differant on the pitch as Willie was widely regarded as the premier No. 8 in europe at the time which was reflected in his being picked for the Irish and British lions in 1977.Willie was once told by a coach that if he gave up the smokes he would be faster around the pitch. Typical of Willie's wit he replied " but then i would spend most of the match offside"Willie lives and works in Kilkenny but is still a huge supporter of the game and is one of the most revered and loved rugby players in the history of the Irish game.