Jamaica's Rugby Guru Jacob Thompson wins IRB Development Award


Jacob Thompson is the winner of this year’s Development Award. Thompson came home to Jamaica from England in the early 1970s and started a mission to bring Rugby to the island that continues to this day. Thanks to Thompson, Jamaica now counts the sport amongst its social fabric.


Thompson played for Jamaica, coached a number of local teams and was appointed Chief Organiser for Schoolboy Rugby, a position he has retained up to now.


He has been the Chairman of Jamaica Rugby Union since 1999, and was appointed Vice-President of West Indies Rugby Union from the period 2005-2007. In 2007 he was selected as an Executive Committee Member of WIRU.

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Corrigan honoured by IRB


Australian referee Sarah Corrigan has been awarded the 2007 International Rugby Board's ( IRB ) Women’s Personality of the Year at a gala-ceremony in Paris overnight.

Corrigan, who accepted her award at Pavillon d'Armenonville in Paris's Allée de Longchamp, became the first female to referee at an IRB tournament outside the Women’s Rugby World Cup, when she took charge of the IRB Under 19 World Championship match between Zimbabwe and Canada in April.


One of the rising stars of the international ranks, Corrigan came to prominence at the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Canada when she became the first female to referee a World Cup semi-final. She backed up that performance by taking charge of the third place playoff game between France and the host nation only days later.


Corrigan, now in her tenth year of refereeing, was the first female in the ACT, NSW or Queensland to referee a first-grade match and was honoured with an ACT Government Sports Achievement Award for her contribution to the sport in September last year.


Also honoured at the ceremony in Paris is former Australian Test Referee, Australian Referees Selector/Assessor and recently retired IRB referee selector and assessor Dick Byers.


Dick Byers served International Rugby for more than 30 years.


Another highlight of the evening for Australian Rugby was Wallabies World Cup-winning captain John Eales’ induction into the IRB Hall of Fame.


The towering Queenslander made his debut against Wales in Brisbane in 1991 and went on to represent Australia in 86 Tests, captaining the Wallabies on 55 occasions.


Over his eleven years on the international stage, Eales helped Australian Rugby become a powerhouse of sport, including World Cup wins in 1991 and 1999, Tri Nations tournament wins in 2000-2001, seven Bledisloe Cups and a series win over the visiting British & Irish Lions in 2001.

IRB Player of the Year – Bryan Habana, South Africa
IRB Team of the Year – South Africa

IRB Coach of the Year – Jake White, South Africa
IRB Under 19 Player of the Year – Robert Fruean, New Zealand

IRB Sevens Team of the Year – New Zealand
IRB Sevens Player of the Year – Afeleke Pelenise, New Zealand

IRB Women’s Personality of the Year – Sarah Corrigan
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service - Dick Byres

Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Jose Maria Epalza
IRB Development Award - Jacob Thompson

Spirit of Ruby Award – Nicolas Pueta
IRPA Try of the Year - Takudzwa Ngwenya, USA

IRPA Special Merit Award – Fabien Pelous, France
IRB Hall of Fame inductees - Pierre de Coubertin, Wilson Whineary, Dr Danny Craven, Gareth Edwards, John Eales