Tony Ward (rugby player)

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Tony Ward
fullname = Anthony Joseph Patrick Ward


caption =
country =
position = Fly-half
currentclub =
dateofbirth = October 8 1954
placeofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
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club1 = Rugby Union
year1start =
year1end =
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club2 = Garryowen
year2start = 19xx
year2end = 19xx
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club3 = Greystones RFC
year3start = 19xx
year3end = 19xx
appearances3 =
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club4 = St. Mary's College RFC
year4start = 19xx
year4end = 19xx
appearances4 =
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club5 = Soccer
year5start =
year5end =
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club6 = Shamrock Rovers
year6start = 1973
year6end = 1975
appearances6 =
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club7 = Limerick United
year7start = 1981
year7end = 198x
appearances7 =
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teamA = Munster
yearAstart = 19xx
yearAend = 19xx
appearancesA =
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teamB = Leinster
yearBstart = 19xx
yearBend = 19xx
appearancesB =
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teamC = Ireland
yearCstart = 1978
yearCend = 1987
appearancesC = 19
triesC =
goalsC =
fieldgoalsC =
pointsC = 113
teamD = British and Irish Lions
yearDstart = 1980
yearDend =
appearancesD = 1
triesD =
goalsD =
fieldgoalsD =
pointsD = 18
teamE = Barbarians
yearEstart = 19xx
yearEend = 19xx
appearancesE =
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Anthony Joseph Patrick Ward (born October 9 1954, Dublin, Ireland), commonly referred to as Tony Ward, was an Irish rugby union and soccer player during the 1970s and 1980s. He played rugby as a fly-half for, among others, Munster, Leinster, Nrut|Ireland , the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians. Although better known as a rugby player, he also played soccer for both Shamrock Rovers and Limerick United. In 1981 he played for Limerick United in the UEFA Cup against Southampton and in 1982 he helped them win the FAI Cup.

Playing career

Ireland

Ward won 19 caps for Ireland between 1978 and 1987. He made his international debut against Scotland at Lansdowne Road on January 21 1978 at the age of 23. He helped Ireland win 12-9 and during the 1978 Five Nations Championship he scored 38 points, a record for a debutant. He made one major tour with Ireland, to Australia in 1979. During his career as an Ireland international he scored 113 points, including 29 penalties, 7 conversions and 4 drop goals. He played his last game for Ireland on June 3 1987 in a 32-9 win over Tonga during the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

Munster

Ward also inspired Munster to a legendary win over New Zealand, scoring two drop goals and a conversion in a 12-0 victory at Thomond Park on October 31 1978. To date Munster are the only Irish team ever to beat the All-Blacks.

British and Irish Lions

Ward also played one Test game for the British and Irish Lions during the 1980 South Africa tour. He set a Lions Test record by scoring 18 points, including 5 penalties and a drop goal. It was also a record for any player against South Africa.

Later Years

Journalist

Since retiring as a sportsman, Ward has worked as a sports journalist, most notably with the "Irish Independent", and as a rugby commentator for Radio Telefís Éireann.

Coach

Ward is currently involved in St. Gerards School in Bray, where he is coaching the Senior Rugby team and has been doing so for a number of years now.

Limerick United

*"'FAI Cup
**"Winner"
**1982: 1

External links

* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=919 Bio at www.sporting-heroes.net]