Raymond John McLoughlin (21 August 1939 – 20 November 2021) was an

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

international who was capped 40 times at prop, an Irish record at the time. He began at tight head, moving to the open side on his return to the Ireland team in 1971 after a five-year absence. McLoughlin captained his country on seven occasions. He was selected for two test series with the British Lions and played for invitational tourists the Barbarians. McLoughlin also had a long career at club and provincial level, representing

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbhn ...

Early life

He was born in Ahascragh,

Ballinasloe Ballinasloe ( ; ) is a town in the easternmost part of County Galway in Connacht. Located at an ancient crossing point on the River Suck, evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of Bronze Age sites. Built around a 12th-ce ...

, Co Galway,

, and received his secondary school education at

Garbally College St. Joseph's College, Garbally Park (Irish: ''Coláiste Sheosaimh Naofa'') is an Irish voluntary Catholic secondary school situated in Garbally Park, the former seat of the Earl of Clancarty, near Ballinasloe in County Galway. It is a single-s ...

and

Blackrock College Blackrock College ( ga, Coláiste na Carraige Duibhe) is a voluntary secondary school, voluntary day school, day and boarding school, boarding Catholicism, Catholic secondary school for boys aged 13–18, in Williamstown, Blackrock, Dublin, Bl ...

. He is one of five children of Tadhg Mac Lochlainn and Mel Kelly. He is a brother of Colm McLoughlin. He studied at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

graduating with a Degree in Chemical Engineering and played for the university club

UCD RFC University College Dublin Rugby Football Club is based in Dublin, Ireland, and plays in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League. They play their home games at UCD Bowl. The club was founded in 1910 and they won their first trophy, the Leinster J ...

Rugby career

He toured twice with the British Lions, in

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and again in

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses ( February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 10, and August 6). The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history. Events Ja ...

to New Zealand. Both tours saw McLoughlin injured, though in the 1966 tour he managed to play in three Tests before being forced to retire. However, in 1971 he managed just five provincial games before he broke his thumb in a rough game against

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...

. McLoughlin's knowledge and scenario planning were highly valued by other good players. John Taylor, who toured with McLoughlin with the British Lions in 1971, described him as 'one of the best technicians the game has ever known'. Sports columnist Bill Bridge in 2008 named him as Ireland's best open-side prop of the previous 40 years.

Business career

Outside rugby, McLoughlin was a business man, and in 1973 he was the chief executive of James Crean, an industrial holdings company. As of 2006 he was the chairman of Oakhill printing group.

Death

He died on 20 November 2021, aged 82.

Notes

External links

London Irish profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLoughlin, Ray 1939 births 2021 deaths Blackrock College RFC players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Ireland Connacht Rugby players Irish rugby union players Ireland international rugby union players London Irish players People from Ballinasloe Rugby union props University College Dublin R.F.C. players Barbarian F.C. players Rugby union players from County Galway People educated at Garbally College