Tom Kiernan, one of Ireland’s greatest rugby players, who as an administrator was credited with saving the Five Nations Championship – obituary

Tom Kiernan, who has died aged 83, was a gigantic figure in Irish rugby for more than half a century as a player, coach and administrator. Ronan O’Gara, the former Irish fly-half, asked: “Can anyone match the legacy Tommy Kiernan has bequeathed to Irish rugby?”

His question was answered by Syd Millar, former Irish international and a player, coach and manager of the British and Irish Lions: “I cannot think of anyone in our game who had the same impact and success and carried the same authority on or off the field.”

A writer in the Irish Times said: “Kiernan’s place at the pinnacle of Irish rugby will not depend on tradition, legend, hearsay or deception or exaggerated claims. The facts speak for themselves.”

Tom Kiernan played at full-back 54 times for Ireland, 24 of them as captain, between 1960 and 1973. When he retired he had won more caps, led his country more times and scored more points (158) than anyone in the history of Irish rugby.

He was in the first Irish team to beat South Africa in 1965, his winning kick scraping over the bar, as he put it, “like a two iron in golf”, and he led them to a first victory over Australia two years later.

He toured with the British and Irish Lions in South Africa in 1962, playing in one Test in a series lost 3-1 and again in 1968, captaining the side and scoring 35 of the 38 points the Lions scored in three losing Tests and one draw. Kiernan was said to be in “the form of his life” on the tour, which was unfortunately disrupted by heavily publicised horseplay off the field between so-called Kippers and Wreckers that resulted in the destruction not only of hotel rooms but the sleeper train carrying the squad to Kruger National Park

In 1978 Kiernan coached his beloved Munster to