Fergus Slattery

John Fergus Slattery (12 February 1949 – 3 June 2026), nicknamed Slatts, was a rugby union player who represented Ireland. A "tearaway" open-side flanker, "one of the best of his generation", and blessed with blistering pace, he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007 and the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2015. and then senior rugby for UCD. He then joined Blackrock College R.F.C.

Ireland During his senior career Slattery earned 61 caps for Ireland, 18 as captain, and scored three tries. His call-up came in January 1970, an 8–8 draw against the Springboks at Lansdowne Road; his final appearance was against France in the 1984 Five Nations Championship, at which stage he was the game's most-capped flanker. Slattery was a member of the British and Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand, missing out on a start in the third test due to illness.

He toured with the Lions again in 1974, playing in all four Tests and captaining the side for two provincial matches. In the final minute of the fourth Test, Slattery appeared to have scored a try to win the match but it was controversially disallowed. Of that unbeaten "Invincibles" tour, Slattery recalled: "We were all so fortunate to have been around together at the same time. When you look at the quality of the players we had to choose from then it was superb. If you picked an all-time Lions XV you would probably find it dominated by the players of that era". After his death Lions Rugby called him "an integral part of one of the best British & Irish Lions back rows of all time".

Other Slattery played for the Barbarians on 18 occasions, including scoring a try in the famous 1973 game against the All Blacks in Cardiff.

Business career Slattery worked as an estate agent and in commercial property.

Personal life Slattery and his wife Margot had a daughter Nikki, son Cameron and grandchildren.

Honours

Ireland Five Nations Championship: Winner (2): 1974, 1982 Triple Crown: Winner (1): 1982