By: GRATIATPosted on

JACK KYLE, REGARDED as one of Ireland’s greatest ever rugby players, has died today at the age of 88.

Born 10 January 1926, the out-half won 46 official international caps while guiding Ireland to a Grand Slam in the 1948 Five Nations Championship – 61 years before their next came in 2009 – and he would win a Championship medals again in 1949 and 1951 .

A surgeon by trade, Dr Kyle also won six Test caps for the Lions in the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand. In a tour spanning four months, the Lions defeated the Wallabies in two Tests after drawing once and losing twice to the All Blacks.

After hanging up his boots Kyle spent the remainder of his medical career overseas, taking roles in Indonesia and Zambia before returning to live in Newcastle Co. Down.

Slam to Slam: 13 brilliant pictures of the great Jack Kyle