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Gary Halpin, a former Irish mainstay who scored a try against New Zealand at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and then taunted the All Blacks with an obscene gesture, has died. He was 55 years old.
World Rugby announced the death on Wednesday (Thursday NZT). The cause of death was not immediately known.
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Halpin played 11 games for Ireland and was known for his gesture after scoring a try against New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Trotting backwards, he raised two middle fingers towards his opponents. The All Blacks won 43-19.
YOUTUBE / SCREENGRAB
Irish mainstay Gary Halpin makes an obscene gesture towards the All Blacks after scoring a try at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Halpin made his international debut against England in 1990 and also played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He played rugby for clubs in Leinster, London Irish and Harlequins.
More recently he had been working at Cistercian College in Tipperary.
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Former Irish prop Gary Halpin, seen here bandaged up before a 1993 test against Romania in Dublin, has died.
“The College’s community of staff, students, parents and monks was devastated this morning upon learning of the sudden death of our dear colleague and friend Gary Halpin RIP,” the school wrote on Twitter.
Halpin also competed in the hammer throw, for Manhattan College in the United States and for Ireland at the 1987 world track championships.
