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Former British and Irish Lion Ray McLoughlin has died at the age of 82. The tighthead prop played three Test matches on the Lions’ 1966 tour of Australia and New Zealand.
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He was also selected for the tour to New Zealand five years later but injury prevented him from making further Test appearances.
Born in Ballinasloe, County Galway in 1939, McLoughlin won 40 caps for Ireland, captaining his country on eight occasions.
He represented Connacht 34 times during the amateur era and was the province’s first Lions tourist.
“Connacht Rugby are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Ray McLoughlin, one of the greatest players to represent the province,” read a statement on the club’s official website.
“McLoughlin is regularly mentioned as one of Ireland’s greatest-ever props and he leaves an immeasurable impact on rugby in the west of Ireland.”
