Tara Flanagan

Tara with Georgie at a Hall Of Fame function during the RWC2021

Tara Flanagan. The ‘lock from hell’.

People are supposed to shrink as we age so I’m scared to think how imposing Tara must have been on the rugby field when she played 30-odd years ago.

And then add in the size of her personality and you get an idea why Tara’s name has taken on mythical proportions over the years. An articulate thinker, reflected in her position as a County Superior Court Judge in California’ Tara was an absolute joy to talk to. Her memories and stories felt like they were from only yesterday and I loved seeing the face of my 9- year-old son hanging onto her every word.

Like the one about the time they were invited to the White House. Not all the US Eagles winning RWC1991 team could afford to travel to the function ( most were all still paying off their credit cards from attending the World Cup) and Tara was frustrated that in particular, Kathy Flores was not able to be there. So when the players were asked to sign a rugby ball that was being gifted to the President - Tara also signed Kathy Flores’ name so that she too “will forever be in the White House’.

Or what happened after the function when they went across to a pub opposite the White House with the crystal vase they had just been given as the US Women’s Sports team of the year, winning over the US Women’s Football team who had also won the World Cup that same year.