The greatest gathering of Ulster rugby royalty

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby's most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

What's happening here?

It's mid morning Friday, February 9 1951 and the large Ulster contingent has just arrived at Connolly Station in central Dublin from Belfast for Ireland's big match against England the next day. From left to right we have flanker Bill McKay, wing Harry Millar, fly-half Jack Kyle, centres Richard Chambers and Noel Henderson, second rows Des McKibben and Jimmy Nelson and finally prop John Smith. All eight were to start against England the following day.

What's the story behind the picture?

A proud individualist rugby culture in the “North” which nonetheless managed to coexist and combine with their fellow Irishmen in the south to form a mighty team most years. Of course there were rivalries and although in this picture Ulster are celebrating a record number of caps there were many occasions – past and present – when their fans felt they were under-repre- sented in the Ireland team. Some painted that in a political light but in truth was it really any different to huge rivalries elsewhere? In Wales, Gwent and West Wales were often viciously at logger- heads over international repre- sentation, ditto Leicester and Bath in their glory years in England. The bottom line, as far as Ireland are concerned, was all rivalries went out the window when they pulled on the green.

What happened next?

Ireland won a torrid encounter 3-0 with McKibben making the headlines by scoring the solitary try. Ireland went on to beat Scotland 6-5 at Murrayfield and finished their campaign with a 3-3 draw against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park when they scored the only try in a tight game which of course under modern scoring methods would have given them a 5-3 win and the Grand Slam. As it was they won the Championship having scored just 21 points in total in four games and a points difference of +4!

Why is this picture iconic?

This is arguably the greatest gathering of Ulster rugby royalty in history and all the more special for its impromptu, intimate, on the road feel. It is also evocative of a different era, the 50s, bunking off work or studies on the Friday morning, travelling to games on the train with overnight bags. The lads will have enjoyed an Ulster fryen route and now there is anticipation and tension in the air as they disembark in a ‘foreign' country that they nonetheless call home. Irish politics and sport has always been confusing. Who were these warriors?

Bill McKay is in his regulation Army duffle coat as befits a former commando who fought in the Persian Gulf and Burma against the Chindits where he received the last rites on one occasion after a vicious bout of malaria. A former schoolboy star with Coleraine Academical Institute he was also the Northern Ireland mile champion after the war and narrowly lost to a youngster called Roger Bannister when running for Queen's University against Oxford in an athletics match. If only he had dipped insisted spectators!

A devastating all action flanker, McKay starred in the Ireland Grand Slam team of 1948 and played in all six Tests for the Lions in 1950, and was still at the height of his powers when this picture was taken. The following year his career, alas came to an abrupt halt when he was taking a high ball in a club match and a teammate crashed into him smashing his patella in five places.

Next comes Millar from the Ards Club who was to make his debut the following day, the first of six caps in total while Kyle surely needs little introduction, still the Prince of fly-halves in the opinion of many Ireland fans. It was his 25th birthday on the Saturday but already he has been there, done it, and got the t-shirt with Ireland and the Lions. He sits there serenely, nothing phases him.

Next to Kyle appropriately enough, we have his two centres Richard Chambers and Noel Henderson. Chambers was a meteor who had made his debut two weeks earlier off the back of Ulster's outstanding Interprovincial title and was to only play seven Tests in total. Henderson in contrast went on to win 40 Ireland caps through the 50s in a glittering career while he was also capped on the wing by the 1950 Lions. Later he was to become President of the Irish Rugby Union.

“All rivalries went out the window when they pulled on the green”

Moving down the line we have another future IRFU President Des McKibben, part of the large McKibben rugby clan, who moved between lock and the back row, and next to him with his natty leather glove is a noted hard man and enforcer Jimmy Nelson who played four Lions Tests against New Zealand in 1950. Which leaves John Smith, an unlikely looking prop by today's standards but a tough customer who had also made his debut a fortnight earlier and went on to win 12 caps in total.

Footnote: Two of the biggest names here – McKay and Kyle – were later to emigrate and utilise their medical skills. McKay moved to New Zealand and became a GP in Gisborne where by all accounts he virtually worked for free, refusing payment for his services. Kyle was to spend 34 years doing missionary work in Zambia where he worked as a consultant surgeon.