John Sydney Millar

John Sydney Millar

Sydney Millar was born in Ballymena on 23 May 1934. A member of the local club throughout his playing career, he won 37 caps at prop for Ireland and made 44 appearances, including nine tests, for the British Isles on his three Lions' tours between 1959 and 1968. He later coached the 1974 Lions on their unbeaten tour of South Africa and managed the 1980 touring side to the same country. Syd Millar's distinguished contribution to the Barbarians included four Easter tours that spanned three decades from 1959 to 1971 and nearly 30 years as a committeeman from 1978. He was also chairman of the International Rugby Board. In 2012 he was appointed as a vice-president of the Barbarian Football Club. His son Peter {q.v] played for the Barbarians in 1987.