Nigel Carr
Encyclopedia
Nigel Carr was an Ireland rugby union international whose promising career was cut short due to injuries sustained in an IRA bomb explosion.
on 27 July 1959. He won Irish U-23 and 'B' caps in 1979 plus further 'B' appearances in 1980, 1982 and 1984, before winning his first senior cap in 1985.
. The played together at Regent House Grammar School
, Queen's University
, Ards RFC
, Ulster
and Ireland
in the late 1970s and into the 1980s.
Matthews made his senior international debut against Scotland
at Murrayfield
on 2 February 1985 and was part of the Triple Crown
winning side of 1985. He was on the subsequent 1985 Japan tour. He won his 12th and final cap in 1987 against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park
. Carr missed out on the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup
because he was forced to prematurely end his career through injuries due to an IRA car-bomb. On 25 April 1987, Carr, David Irwin
and Philip Rainey had set off for a training session in Dublin before the World Cup. On that day the IRA had targeted Lord Justice Maurice Gibson
- Northern Ireland's second most senior judge- who was travelling back from holiday with his wife, Lady Cecily Gibson, and a 500 lb land mine was detonated at Kileen, on the border, killing them both. The three Ireland internationals were on the same stretch of road when the bomb exploded and although miraculously, they all escaped serious injury, the explosion ended Carr's rugby career at just 27. Carr has been described as one of the best players to have pulled on the Irish jersey. Carr, although he never toured with the Lions
, did play for them against The Rest of the World in a one-off game in Cardiff in 1986. He also played for the Barbarians.
Early life
Nigel John Carr was born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
on 27 July 1959. He won Irish U-23 and 'B' caps in 1979 plus further 'B' appearances in 1980, 1982 and 1984, before winning his first senior cap in 1985.
Senior Rugby Career
Carr was renowned as one half of an extremely effective back-row duo along with Philip MatthewsPhilip Matthews
Phillip Michael Matthews is the current President of the National College of Ireland, in Dublin, since February 2009...
. The played together at Regent House Grammar School
Regent House Grammar School
Regent House Grammar School is a co-ed voluntary grammar school situated in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. It comprises two parts: the preparatory department, known as "the Prep" and the main school itself...
, Queen's University
Queen's University RFC
Queen's University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of Queen's University Belfast. Founded in 1869, it is the second oldest rugby union club in Northern Ireland . They originally played as Queen's College, Belfast and have won the Ulster Senior Cup a record 21 times...
, Ards RFC
Ards RFC
Ards RFC is a rugby club based in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is affiliated to the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The club currently fields five adult teams and an under-20 team. Three youth teams also play at under-18, under-16 and under-14 levels...
, Ulster
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
and Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
in the late 1970s and into the 1980s.
Matthews made his senior international debut against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
at Murrayfield
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
on 2 February 1985 and was part of the Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
winning side of 1985. He was on the subsequent 1985 Japan tour. He won his 12th and final cap in 1987 against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
. Carr missed out on the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
because he was forced to prematurely end his career through injuries due to an IRA car-bomb. On 25 April 1987, Carr, David Irwin
David Irwin
David George Irwin is a former rugby union player who played for and the British Lions.-Ireland:Between 1980 and 1990, Irwin made 25 appearances for , scoring 8 points including 2 tries...
and Philip Rainey had set off for a training session in Dublin before the World Cup. On that day the IRA had targeted Lord Justice Maurice Gibson
Maurice Gibson
Sir Maurice Gibson PC was a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland, he was killed, along with his wife Cecily, Lady Gibson, during an attack by the Provisional Irish Republican Army ....
- Northern Ireland's second most senior judge- who was travelling back from holiday with his wife, Lady Cecily Gibson, and a 500 lb land mine was detonated at Kileen, on the border, killing them both. The three Ireland internationals were on the same stretch of road when the bomb exploded and although miraculously, they all escaped serious injury, the explosion ended Carr's rugby career at just 27. Carr has been described as one of the best players to have pulled on the Irish jersey. Carr, although he never toured with the Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
, did play for them against The Rest of the World in a one-off game in Cardiff in 1986. He also played for the Barbarians.