Syd Millar

Early life Millar was born in Ballymena in Northern Ireland, the eldest of six children. He spent a period away as a sea cadet.

Rugby Millar played at outside-half at school. A highly technical prop, he focused on the set-piece and could play on either side of the scrum at the highest level.

Playing career Millar played for his home town club, Ballymena RFC.

Millar first played for Ireland in 1958 and went on to win 37 caps as a prop. This included a four-year gap when he was out of favour. His last international was in 1970. In July the same year, he was named coach of the Ireland national team, succeeding Ronnie Dawson. He was succeeded as Ulster coach by Maurice Crabbe. He coached Ireland until July 1975, when Roly Meates was appointed his successor.

Millar coached the hugely successful Lions tour to South Africa 1974. According to Ian McGeechan, he was pivotal to the success of the tour. Millar used information from ex-pats he knew in South Africa in his preparation.

Terry O’Connor (rugby writer) said: “In my view Millar has always been under-rated as a coach and overshadowed by Carwyn James who was in charge of the 1971 team. Both rank among the world’s best and brought different qualities to their work. James was a visionary about back play but accepted that his forward knowledge at Test level was limited. Millar has proved over the years a master of forward tactics and in 1974 forged the finest pack ever to visit South Africa.”

Millar was elected as the IRB chairman in late 2003 to a four-year term commencing in 2004. He presided over a governance restructure and new strategic plan for the IRB, and was influential in the continued lobbying for Rugby sevens inclusion in the Summer Olympics. He stepped down from his posts at the IRB and the IRFU following the 2007 World Cup and was succeeded as by Bernard Lapasset.

Personal life and death Millar was married and had a daughter Lesley and sons Peter and Johnny. He missed the birth of Peter, later an Ulster, Ireland and Barbarians prop, because he was on tour.

Syd Millar died on 10 December 2023, at the age of 89.

Honours On 20 May 2004 he was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Ballymena.

Millar was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Ulster in 1992,

On 12 December 2007, Millar was appointed to the Légion d'honneur, France's highest decoration, at a ceremony in Ballymena Rugby Club, by Bernard Lapasset, his successor as IRB Chairman.

In 2009 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. Gavin Mairs (rugby writer) said: ”Millar’s contribution to rugby football has been nothing short of phenomenal – from player, coach, manager and lately world-class administrator who presided over two outstanding Rugby World Cups and leaves the Game well equipped to continue its global expansion in the professional era.”