Chilean rugby loses its greatest legend in history: Ian Campbell dies at 94

Surrounded by his family and loved ones, the outstanding national athlete passed away, who since 2012 has held a place in the IRB Hall of Fame and whose figure has been honored in different places.

Chilean sport has woken up to sad news: at 94, Ian Campbell Maclean, the greatest legend in national rugby history, has died. Accompanied by his family, this morning he ceased to exist and with him a great legacy remains in life, in which he not only underlined his enormous ability to kick, but also for the great human conditions that made him famous in the world of this discipline.

Born in Valparaíso, May 15, 1928, in a family of Scottish origin, whose father was Colin Campbell, one of the first goalscorers of the Chilean soccer team. However, Ian and donald (born in 1919) they devoted themselves to rugby, where they reaped great achievements. However, the latter died on the front lines of the Second World War.

Ian, meanwhile, shone as a flyweight winning 13 national titles with the PWCC, between 1948 and 1971. He made his debut at just 15 years old at the La Reina club. Before, he started at St. Peter’s School, Villa Alemana, to then move on to badminton and make the jump to the team that consolidated him and where he earned the nickname of “Paitas de Oro”, for his great ability to strike. Even, over the years, he also strengthened his left leg, becoming ambidextrous.

for the condors he made his debut on September 5, 1948, in the first victory over Uruguay. That day, Chile beat the Teros 21-3 in Buenos Aires. He defended the national jersey until 1962, in a career during which he reached South American second place in 1951, 1958 and 1961.

Hall of fame

With this award-winning career, the International Rugby Board (IRB) in 2012 named him a member of the Hall of Fame. where his brother Donald is also located. “It’s a great honor for me and We couldn’t be happier that Donald was also included. He was my sporting hero.” He commented on this occasion.

“I admired my brother a lot, I never managed to play with him; he went to war when i was little and that was all i wanted. In a way, he and I didn’t have much contact, he went to war very young. I admired him a lot on the pitch, I always wanted to be like him, follow in his footsteps.” expressed on another occasion.

While his grandson, Santiago Fuenzalida Campbell was also an outstanding exponent of the discipline until his premature departure in November 2008, when he died in a car accident.

On October 20, Ian Campbell took part in his last public activity, during which he was honored by his beloved PWCC, who named the rugby field after this great legend of the oval, precisely in the middle of the Santiago Fuenzalida Rugby Festival.

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Source: Latercera

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