Ronnie Kavanagh

James Ronald "Ronnie" Kavanagh (1931 – 13 July 2021) was an Irish rugby union player. He played in the back row for Wanderers, Leinster and Ireland.

Ronnie Kavanagh

Birth name	James Ronald Kavanagh
Date of birth	1931
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Date of death	13 July 2021 (aged 90)
Place of death	Dublin, Ireland
School	Blackrock College
University	University College Dublin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back row Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) Wanderers () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) Leinster () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1953–1962 Ireland 35

Career

Kavanagh first came to prominence as a student at Blackrock College when he captained the college rugby team in the Leinster Senior Cup. He and his brothers, Paddy and Gene, all played in the back row for Wanderers, before all three brothers later played for Leinster. After a tour of South America with Ireland in 1952, Kavanagh won 35 caps for the national team between 1953 and 1962. He was inducted into the Rugby Writers’ of Ireland Hall of Fame in 2009 and in 2011 he was named in University College Dublin's Team of the Century.

Personal life and death

A graduate of University College Dublin, Kavanagh was a chartered accountant and a successful businessman. He also was active in a property company with his two brothers and his son, Rees. Ronnie married Kathleen Knight in 1957. He died at his home surrounded my family in Sandycove on 13 July 2021.