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OBITUARY JIMMY NELSON OBE

During the summer, it was with great sadness that the rugby world learnt of the death of Jimmy Nelson at the age of 92 following a long illness.

the Branch Honorary Treasurer and indeed was still the Treasurer when he became the Ulster Branch President in 1968. He soon progressed to the Irish Rugby Football Union where he took on many administrative roles, including the role of Honorary Treasurer, before being elevated to the IRFU Presidential role in 1982. In 1984, his services to rugby, both on and off the pitch, were recognised when he was awarded the OBE for his services to rugby football. But in spite of the many honours he gained, Jimmy was still a real club man and his love

A member of the 1948 Grand Slam winning Ireland team, Jimmy was also a former President of both the IRFU and the Ulster Branch and gained playing honours with Ulster, Ireland, the Barbarians and the British and Irish Lions. Born in Belfast and raised in Portadown, James Edward Nelson learnt about the game of rugby at Royal School Armagh before moving back to Belfast and joining Malone in 1938 – a club he remained a member of throughout the rest of his life. He first made his name at the club in the

JIMMY NELSON

of Malone RFC, the club he joined when he left school and remained a member of right up to his death, never waned. Malone RFC celebrated its centenary in the season 1991-92 and in preparation for that season, he was Chairman of the Centenary Steering Committee and also agreed to be the Patron of the Club for that Centenary season.  He was also the author of the history of the Club for the centenary booklet. Whilst his deteriorating health

second-row alongside Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne. He made his Ulster debut in 1940 and progressed to the Ireland team, winning his first cap against Australia at Lansdowne Road in 1947. Jimmy was a member of the famous Ireland Grand Slam winning side of 1948 and played in all of Ireland’s Championship-winning games in 1948 and 1949. As a result of the part in which he played in

in recent years restricted him, he was still to be seen at Gibson Park, when he could, supporting his beloved Malone right up to a year before his passing – a Malone man from start to finish. The game will miss Jimmy, first and foremost as a player, then as an extremely competent servant behind the scenes, where he was a tireless worker, but most of all as one of the great characters of Ulster and Ireland rugby. A great teller of amusing stories from his playing past, he also remained an astute and knowledgeable financial expert and few Honorary Treasurers in the Ulster Branch or the IRFU would welcome the sight of Jimmy standing up to ask a question. Jimmy was pre-deceased by his first wife Frances and the sympathy of all rugby people in Ulster, Ireland and the rugby playing world goes to his second wife Maureen and the family circle. John McKibbin // Junior Vice President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

these successful Irish sides, he was selected for the 1950 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia captained by Karl Mullen. Jimmy played in four test matches and famously scored two tries against the Wallabies, with Jack Kyle another, in a 24-3 win at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He played in 17 matches of that 32 game tour. He made the last of his 16 international appearances for Ireland against France at Stade Colombes in 1954. Jimmy was also a regular selection on the Barbarians XV. He made his last competitive appearance in Ulster’s famous 5-5 draw with the touring All Blacks in 1955 before moving quickly into administration. A chartered accountant by profession at the age of 22, he entered into a partnership with the Belfast firm Craig Gardiner & Co in 1954 and stayed there until he retired in 1981. This financial background stood him in good stead as, apart from numerous different roles held within the Ulster Branch, he also served as

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