Irish rugby stars honoured on British stamps

Irish rugby internationals Simon Geoghegan and Sophie Spence have been included in a new set of stamps from Royal Mail to celebrate the 150th anniversaries of the first ever rugby international game.

The stamps, featuring players from Ireland, English, Scotland and Wales mark the first international match between England and Scotland in 1871 along with the formation of the Rugby Football Union.

Rugby legends from the men’s and women’s game feature on the eight stamps including JPR Williams, Emily Scarratt, Danielle Waterman, Sophie Spence, Roy Laidlaw, Kim Littlejohn, Simon Geoghegan, Melissa Berry and Jonny Wilkinson.

Images on the stamps are from the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final in 2014, the 1970 Five Nations Championship, the 2015 Six Nations, the 1984 Five Nations, the Women’s Home Nations Championship of 1998, the 1994 Five Nations, the Women’s Six Nations Championship of 2009 and the Rugby World Cup Final in 2003.

David Gold, Royal Mail’s director of external affairs and Policy, said: “The sport of rugby continues to evolve today and is becoming an ever more inclusive sport – with almost three million women players across the world.

“Increased diversity and inclusivity has seen the culture of the game change, both on and off the field. These stamps are a fitting way to mark Rugby Union’s long and extraordinary history.”

Royal Mail worked with the IRFU, RFU, SRU and WRU on selecting the images to be included in the stamp issue.