Lynne Cantwell, former SA Rugby High-Performance Manager for Women’s Rugby, will be honoured with induction into the World Rugby Hall of Fame at a special ceremony on 26 September during the Women’s Summit in London, coinciding with the eve of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final.
Cantwell earned 86 consecutive caps over a 13-year period as a former Ireland international, was part of the 2013 Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam team, and competed in four Women’s Rugby World Cups, notably against France in 2014, where Ireland reached their first semi-final after defeating New Zealand.
She played in Ireland’s first women’s sevens and Rugby World Cup Sevens squads, helped qualify for the World Series, and, post-retirement, played senior mixed touch at the 2019 Touch World Cup.
Cantwell later joined the SA Rugby, where she advanced women’s rugby by securing international participation and establishing a formal contracting structure for national players. She has now returned to Ireland as Head of Women’s Strategy for the Irish Rugby Football Union.
Cantwell will be inducted alongside England’s Roxanne Clarke, recognised for both her skill and character. Clarke is regarded as one of the game’s top scrummagers and competed in four Women’s Rugby World Cups, winning the title in France in 2014.
Clark retired in 2018 as England’s most-capped player with 137 appearances, a record later surpassed by Sarah Hunter at RWC 2021.
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The World Rugby Hall of Fame recognises those that have made an outstanding contribution to the game of rugby throughout their careers, while also demonstrating rugby’s character-building values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.
Cantwell and Clark take the number of inductees to the Hall of Fame in 2025 to four, and this year’s inductees will bring the total in the Hall of Fame to 175 since it began in 2006.
“On behalf of the global rugby family, I would like to congratulate Lynne Cantwell and Rocky Clark on their richly deserved inductions into the World Rugby Hall of Fame,” said World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson.
“Lynne was a generational talent and an inspirational part of an Ireland team that secured a first-ever Women’s Six Nations title and beat New Zealand on the way to a first Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final. Rocky’s reputation as a world-class scrummager was deserved, but her value went beyond that, and she was an integral part of a hugely successful era for England.
“The World Rugby Hall of Fame exists to honour the greats of our game, those whose legacy transcends results and statistics. Lynne and Rocky have earned their place, and we thank them for their extraordinary contributions to the game around the world. I look forward to inducting them during what is already a record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup and a generational moment for our game,” said Robinson.
Main Photo Caption: Lynne Cantwell, former SA Rugby High-Performance Manager for Women’s Rugby, will be honoured with induction into the World Rugby Hall of Fame at a special ceremony on 26 September during the Women’s Summit in London, coinciding with the eve of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final. All Photos: Lynne Cantwell
Photo 2 Caption: World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson: “Lynne was a generational talent and an inspirational part of an Ireland team that secured a first-ever Women’s Six Nations title.”
Photo 3 Caption: Pictured with the Springbok Women Sevens at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Prior to her position as Head of Women’s Strategy for the Irish Rugby Football Union, Cantwell advanced women’s rugby in South Africa by securing international participation, and establishing a formal contracting structure for national players.
