Irish Rugby
Gibson inducted into IRB Hall of Fame
ESPNscrum Staff
May 11, 2011
Cambridge University and Ireland centre Mike Gibson, February 16, 1965
Mike Gibson has been inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame © PA Photos
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Players/Officials: Mike Gibson

Former Ireland centre Mike Gibson has been inducted into the International Rugby Board (IRB) Hall of Fame.

At the time of his retirement in 1979 Gibson was the world's most-capped player, having represented Ireland 69 times and played 12 Tests for the British & Irish Lions, including their series win over the All Blacks in 1971.

Gibson was inducted by a fellow Hall of Fame member, Dr Syd Millar CBE, at the Ulster Rugby awards in Belfast on Tuesday.

"It is an honour to be inducting a man who I had the great pleasure of playing alongside for Ulster and Ireland," he said. "Mike Gibson was one of the finest players of his generation, one of the finest players ever to represent Ireland and the British & Irish Lions and a man who epitomised the very ethos of the game and its values."

As well as his exploits at international level, Gibson won three Varsity Match Blues while studying law at Cambridge.

"It is an honour to be inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame and to be recognised amongst an illustrious list of greats," he said. "I consider rugby to be the greatest team sport and I must give thanks to all my team mates with whom I trained and played. Without them this would not have been possible."

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