The family of rugby legends is growing. On Thursday, World Rugby announced the induction of two former internationals into its Hall of Fame. They are ex-Australia full-back Matthew Burke, 81 caps with the Wallabies, and former England back-rower Richard Hill, 71 caps with England. What these two international rugby benchmarks have in common is that they won the World Cup with their respective countries.

An outstanding goal-kicker, Burke scored 25 of his side’s 35 points in the 1999 final against France (35-12). Hill, for his part, “avenged” France four years later, seeing off the Wallabies in Sydney in a legendary final won on the buzzer in extra time thanks to a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal (20-17). He also wore the prestigious British and Irish Lions jersey on five occasions. The pair will be honoured on Saturday in Sydney, at the final test match between Australia and the British and Irish Lions.

“Two exceptional players on the international stage”

“Richard Hill and Matthew Burke were both exceptional players on the international stage. Richard is regularly recognised by his peers as one of the most important cogs in the England teams that enjoyed so much success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, while also being a British and Irish Lions star across three series. Matthew Burke was a model of consistency throughout his career, with outstanding performances against the best teams on the biggest stages.

He was the cornerstone of some of the most successful Wallabies teams of all time”, said John Eales, the former Australian great and chairman of the World Rugby Hall of Fame committee. Burke and Hill take to 173 the number of players, men and women, to have been inducted since the Hall of Fame was created in 2006. They will be joined on 26 September by two women, whose identities have not yet been announced, at the end of the women’s World Cup.