Fergus Slattery, Ireland captain and Lions flanker, dies aged 77

Fergus Slattery, the former Ireland captain and British and Irish Lions flanker widely regarded as one of the finest open-sides of his generation, has died at the age of 77. Blackrock College RFC, the club where he began his career, confirmed the news in a statement on their official website.

Slattery earned 61 caps for Ireland and captained the national side during a career that also took in stints with University College Dublin, Leinster, the Barbarians, the French Barbarians and the Lions. He was a key figure in the Ireland teams that claimed Triple Crown glory in 1982 and 1985, and toured with the Lions to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974.

Blackrock paid tribute in terms that underlined the esteem in which Slattery was held throughout the game. “There are players who wear a jersey and there are players who define it,” the club wrote. “Fergus defined ours. An open-side flanker of extraordinary intelligence, courage and relentless competitiveness, he always seemed to arrive first where the contest was fiercest. He played with ferocity and grace, but without ego or theatre.”

The statement continued: “Modest in demeanour, yet monumental in achievement, Fergus never sought admiration, but earned it universally from team-mates, opponents, supporters and generations of young rugby players, who dreamed of following in his footsteps.”

After retiring from the game, Slattery combined running a commercial property business with media work. He is survived by his wife Margo, their children Nikki and Cameron, and his grandchildren.