Twice Tim

Horan named player of tournament

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Posted: Sunday November 07, 1999 10:44 AM

Tim Horan also won 10,000 pounds for scoring the fastest try of the tournament when he scored in just 92 seconds against Romania. AP

CARDIFF, Wales (Reuters) -- Australia center Tim Horan was named on Sunday as the World Cup's player of the tournament after the Wallabies beat France 35-12 in Saturday's final.

The 29-year-old Queenslander received a gold trophy and a check for 2,500 pounds (US$4,058) to donate to his favorite charity at a presentation by the chairman of the 12-man selection panel, Welsh legend Gareth Edwards.

"There's been some fantastic players in this tournament and I feel a little embarrassed to win this award," Horan said.

"I've always thought of rugby as a team game and it's really been a huge team effort by the Wallabies to win the World Cup."

While the rest of the Australian team left Cardiff on Sunday morning to return home, Horan remained to collect his award. He said he would fly to Australia on Monday, arriving in time for a victory parade.

Edwards said Horan was a unanimous choice for the award.

"This is not just an award for Tim's performance in the final but for everything he did over the whole tournament," Edwards said.

"He has been the outstanding Australian player throughout the tournament and his performances in the semifinal against South Africa and in the final against France were superb."

"On behalf of all the panelists, I would like to congratulate Tim on his fine achievement -- truly one of the greatest players of all time."

Horan, who also played in the Australian team that won the 1991 World Cup, may be in the twilight of his career but he played like a man possessed during the five-week tournament.

He won 10,000 pounds for scoring the fastest try of the tournament when he touched down after just 92 seconds of Australia's opening match with Romania.

Horan won the man of the match award in the pool game with Ireland and in the semifinal against South Africa.

His display against the Springboks was one of the most courageous performances of the entire tournament.

He spent the day before the match in bed with a stomach virus and was still vomiting on the morning of the game.

But he declared himself fit and produced a storming game, slicing his way through the Springbok defense on half a dozen occasions before leaving the field in the 74th minute exhausted.

"It's a tournament where you've really got to stand up. In 1991 I was trying to follow Campo [David Campese] everywhere he went but his time I really wanted to make sure I got my hands on the ball a lot of times," he said.

Horan had another strong match in Saturday's 35-12 win over France, tackling and running freely. He says he is not sure how long he'll continue playing.

"I've been doing this for 12 years now. I'm fairly happy with my form at the moment and I've got a year to run on my contract but I'll weigh things up after I get home," he said.

"I've just got to make sure I'm keen enough to play next year but I'm 70 percent sure I'll play next year.

"I'm still enjoying the game and feel I've got something left but the body's got to hold up during that time as well."

 

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