Lions legend Ian McGeechan joined three Irish and three South Africans in being inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.
Lions coach leads Hall of Fame inductees in ceremony
Three Irish and three South Africans dominated the nine-strong inductees into the IRB Hall of Fame, which also included Lions legend Ian McGeechan.
Sir Anthony O'Reilly, Willie John McBride and former IRB President Dr Syd Millar represented Ireland, while South Africans Barry Heatlie, Benjamin Osler and Frederick du Preez were also inducted.
In a year which saw another epic British and Irish Lions series in South Africa - 2009 coach McGeechan was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Scot has been on seven Lions trips in all, most famously as head coach in 1997 when the tourists won in South Africa.
Also included is the first man to captain a Lions side, Scotland's William Maclagan, who led them on a tour of South Africa in 1891.
Welsh legend
Welsh legend Gerald Davies, who was manager of the side this year, gave a speech on the Lions and the spirit of the game as the inductees were announced.
"The Lions reflect what we think of as camaraderie and the sense of fun in togetherness which are major selling points in Rugby. There is no division, no exclusion of one set of supporters from another, no barriers," said Davies.
"The Lions represent the last of the Rugby adventures. Ask any player who has been on a Lions tour, his views are expressed with reverence as a treasured moment. Those who have not been wish that they had, or given another chance will go next time."
Members of the public had their chance to vote, and these were then discussed by the IRB Hall of Fame Induction Panel comprising Don Cameron (New Zealand), Gerald Davies (Wales), Henri Garcia (France), Norman Mair (Scotland), Pablo Mamone (Argentina) and Nigel Starmer-Smith (England) - who selected the nine legends to be inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2009.
"It has been a great pleasure to return to Rugby School and this historic setting has provided the inductees with yet another memorable occasion in their illustrious Rugby careers," said IRB Vice Chairman Bill Beaumont.
"It has been my great honour and privilege to present the inductees and their representatives whose names are synonymous with the proud history and relationship between South Africa and the Lions."
O'Reilly is the Lions' record try scorer with 37 from his two tours, while Heatlie is thought to be behind South Africa's decision to start wearing their now famous green jerseys.
Hall of Fame Inductees:
William Maclagan (SCO), Barry Heatlie (RSA), Benjamin Osler (RSA), Cliff Morgan (WAL), Sir Anthony O'Reilly (IRL), Frederick du Preez (RSA), Dr Syd Millar (IRL), Willie John McBride (IRL), Ian McGeechan (SCO)
