February 8 down the years
Kyle becomes most capped Irishman
Jackie Kyle (third from left) became Ireland's most capped player on this day in 1958
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1958
The Twickenham crowd observed a minute's silence as tribute to the Manchester United players and officials who died in the Munich air disaster. Jackie Kyle made his 45th Test appearance for Ireland, becoming the most capped Ireland player in major internationals as his side lost 6-0 thanks to a try from No.8 Ned Ashcroft and a penalty from fullback Jim Hetherington.
1964
Chris Laidlaw gave a sparkling display on his Test debut for New Zealand in their fifth and final Test on their tour. They saw off France on a 12-3 scoreline in Paris to retain their unbeaten run at international level. Laidlaw dropped a goal, while winger Ralph Caulton and prop Ken Gray scored tries.
1964
On a day for dream debuts, Mike Gibson made a his fairytale bow at fly-half, spearheading Ireland's 18-5 win over England at Twickenham. All the points were scored from tries and conversions in Ireland's first win at the ground since 1948. With Gibson running the show at ten, inside-centre Michael Flynn crossed for two tries, winger Patrick Casey and flanker Noel Murphy got one each.
1902
Leicester's famous Welford Road ground staged its first international match. A crowd of 20,000 attended England's 6-3 win over Ireland. No Tigers' players took part in the game as tries from winger Sydney Cooper and No.8 Samuel Williams cancelled out Fred Gardiner's score for Ireland.
1930
A drop goal from out-half Paul Murray saw Ireland squeeze past England with a 4-3 win at Lansdowne Road. This was despite the other score in the game coming from a Tony Novis try, but with drop-goals counting for four points and tries for three, Ireland became the third team to win a Five Nations match of the season with a drop-goal.
1947
In the first Five Nations Championship season after World War Two, Ireland hammered England 22-0 in Dublin. The win was Ireland's biggest ever over any side and it came thanks to doubles from wingers Bernard Mullan and Bertie O'Hanlon and a fifth try from wing forward Bill McKay, while Mullan kicked two conversions and a penalty.
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