Copperbelt memories of Ireland's greatest rugby player

In the crowd today at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, when a team led by Brian O'Driscoll ended Ireland's 61-year grand slam drought by beating Wales 17-15, was 83-year old Jack Kyle (pictured left).

Until today, Ireland had won only one grand slam, in 1948. The surviving captain of that side, Karl Mullen, attributes that success in no small way to the genius of Jack Kyle, the fly-half voted the greatest Ireland player in history.

I wonder how many ex-Copperbelt metallurgists remember Jackie Kyle for different reasons. After retiring from rugby he emigrated to Africa, and between 1966 and 2000 was a consultant at the Nchanga Hospital in Chingola, Zambia. Our fondest memory is that he confirmed the imminent birth of Amanda, who was born in Chingola in 1972.