Willie Anderson (rugby union, born 1955)

{{Short description|Ireland international rugby union player (born 1955)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Willie Anderson

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1955|4|3}}

| birth_place = Sixmilecross, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

| repteam1 = {{nrut|Ireland}}

| repyears1 = 1984–1990

| repcaps1 = 27

| reppoints1 = 4

| repupdate= 24 December 2024{{cite web |title=Willie Anderson |url=http://www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/9817.html |publisher=ESPNscrum |access-date=25 December 2024}}

| occupation = rugby union coach

}}

Willie Anderson (born 3 April 1955) is a rugby union coach and former Ireland international. A lock, Anderson was capped 27 times for the national side between 1984 and 1990, some of which as captain.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/3692709.stm|title=Anderson given Scots role|date=28 May 2004|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2008-07-30}} In one notable appearance as captain against the All Blacks, Anderson led his side into a confrontation with their opponents while they were performing the haka.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/1658831.stm|title=Anderson bucks the trend|date=15 November 2001|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2008-07-30}}

While on a 1980 tour in Buenos Aires, Anderson was imprisoned for three months by the Argentinian authorities after attempting to smuggle a flag from a government building. He was later cleared of "demeaning a patriotic symbol".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/2303612/NZ-tour-in-turmoil-6-other-tours-hit-by-trouble.html|title=NZ tour in turmoil: 6 other tours hit by trouble|date=19 June 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2008-07-30}}

In a memorable moment, Anderson along with his French rugby counterpart Jean Condom, unwittingly became the subject of an amusing banner spotted by TV cameras in the crowd during a 5 Nations rugby match at Lansdowne Road in Ireland's championship campaign of 1985. The banner proudly read 'Our Willie's bigger than your Condom!'.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/it-was-a-bit-of-a-kip-but-it-was-our-kip-1.644000 |title=It was a bit of a kip, but it was our kip |first=John |last=O'Donnell |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=28 August 2010 |access-date=21 December 2021}} Willie is also the father of fashion designer Jonathan Anderson who designed the Super Bowl performance outfit worn by the singer Rihanna in February 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/people/rihanna-chose-jonathan-anderson-the-son-of-former-rugby-international-willie-anderson-to-create-a-striking-super-bowl-outfit-4027854|title=

Rihanna chose Jonathan Anderson, the son of former rugby international Willie Anderson, to create a striking Super Bowl outfit|website=Newsletter.co.uk}}

He attended Omagh Academy.