St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

Most will have noticed that Tom Grace (or
Gracer to his teammates) has just stepped
down from his prestigious role as Honorary
Treasurer of IRFU, a role that he has filled
with great distinction for 13 years. As he was
on the field, he was likewise as treasurer,
fearless. He defended his stance, which was
invariably wise, whether in loosening or
closing the coffers. Professionally, he, was a
well-known, talented and successful
accountant.
As well as being a much admired and
effective Hon. Treasurer, he was of course a
highly acclaimed rugby player. He was
undeniably one of St Mary’s College RFC’s
greatest ever players, he played throughout
the 70s. He joined from UCD. In his club
career he was a brilliant winger, big, strong,
fast and skilful, rhapsodic in motion, playing
alongside great players, like, Sean Lynch,
John Moloney, Tom Feighery, JB Sweeney,
Ciaran Fitzgerald (Capt. Lions), Denis Hickie
Snr, Terry Young, Rodney O’Donnell, Frank
and Terry Kennedy, Tony Ward, Seamus
Deering, Declan Fanning, Tony Hickie, Eddie
Wigglesworth, Michael Glynn and Paul and
Alberto Andreucetti. They were times of
peerless St Mary’s College RFC teams.
St Marys won the most coveted All-Ireland
(Bateman) Cup in 1975, in Limerick. This
competition was to mark the centenary of
the IRFU. The four provincial champions
played over one weekend. The weekend
beforehand, Tom, excelled against Old
Wesley to ensure St Mary’s won the Leinster
Senior Cup, so qualifying to play against
Bangor in the semi-final, when he shone and,
he once again starred v Garryowen in the
final. He scored the only try in a 9-9 draw. In
the case of a draw try numbers were
decisive and his try was the only one scored.
He also converted his try and scored a
penalty. A try then was valued 4, and a
conversion 2.
He scored some even more celebrated and
important ones for Ireland. One in
Lansdowne Road, against New Zealand in
1973. He scored a wonderful last minute try
to bring the score to 10-10, only to see Barry
McGann’s fine kick from far out, blown very
TOM O. GRACE
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Tom Grace
slightly off course. In 1972, due to The
Troubles, Wales and Scotland refused to
come to Ireland to fulfil their Five Nations
games, but in 1973, England to their great
credit, came to Lansdowne Road. Tom
scored the first try. Two other Marys’ heroes
played that day, Sean Lynch and John
Moloney. This was one of the great events in
Irish sporting history; equal to 2009 in Croke
Park. Those who attended both, have a
treasure in their hearts.
Tom won 25 caps between 1972 and 1978.
This would probably equate to 125 in
modern terms. He and another Mary’s star,
John Moloney, were capped on the same
day and played together at all levels
including for the British and Irish Lions in the
famous 1974 winning tour of South Africa.
He captained Ireland on eight occasions.
Later in life, he served on the Lions