Willie Duggan was a native of Kilkenny city Ireland. He was a member of the Ireland national rugby union team during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Duggan who was Managing Director of Willie Duggan Lighting Ltd in Kilkenny, was first capped for Ireland in 1975. He was selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand in 1977.
Rugby has been part of the great sporting tradition of Kilkenny since at least 1886. The Kilkenny Sentinel reports that a match between Kilkenny County and City Football Club and County Carlow Football Club took place at Dukes Meadow in Kilkenny in 1889.
William Patrick Duggan was born was born in Kilkenny in 1950. He played his club rugby with Blackrock College in Dublin. He made his debut for the Ireland international team in their game with England on the 18th January 1975 at Lansdowne Road. On the day Ireland were winners by 12 points to 9. Duggan, a back row forward, played at number 8 for Ireland between 1975 and 1984. He went on to play 41 times for Ireland and retired as captain of the Irish team in 1984. During his career Duggan came to be regarded as the premier number 8 in the Northern hemisphere.
Willie Duggan was selected to play for the Lions on their tour of New Zealand in 1977. He scored a try in the third test and played in 15 of the 26 games of the tour. It has been reported that during his playing career Duggan did not enjoy training and smoked cigarettes. He was inducted in the Guinness Rugby Writers Hall of Fame in 2010
Willie Duggan was born in Kilkenny in the year 1950 On This Day.
Willie Duggan Lighting