IRB Hall of Fame

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Not to be confused with International Rugby Hall of Fame.

The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board (IRB) that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals.^[1] The Hall of Fame recognises the history and important contributions to the game, through an annual induction ceremony.

The IRB Hall of Fame was introduced during the 2006 IRB Awards ceremony in Glasgow, Scotland. The inaugural inductees were William Webb Ellis, who apocryphally caught the ball during a football game and ran with it, and Rugby School, which has left a huge legacy with the game in a number of ways. IRB Chairman, Dr Syd Millar, said “To commemorate the establishment of the IRB Hall of Fame and to recognise the proud history and traditions of the Game, including its origins, William Webb Ellis and Rugby School were enrolled into the IRB Hall of Fame,” added Dr Millar.^[2]

The second induction to the IRB Hall of Fame took place in Paris on October 21, 2007, the night after the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final.^[3]