Kevin O'Brien (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
Kevin O'Brien is a former rugby union international who represented Ireland
from 1980 to 1981.
and made his international debut on 19 January 1980 at Twickenham
in the England
vs Ireland
match that was won by England 24-9. He later toured South Africa with Ireland in 1981
. He came on against South Africa as a reserve in the 23-15 loss at Newlands Stadium
, Cape Town
. He was selected to start against South Africa in Durban
at Kings Park Stadium
. In that final match O'Brien scored a try, but Ireland narrowly lost 12 points to 10. He was a member of the famous North team which beat the All Blacks at Otley on 17 November 1979. He was one of four Broughton Park players in this side and was joined by teammates Tony Neary
, Tony Bond
in the centre and Jim Sydall in the second row. He also played for a World XV
on 9 August 1980 against in Buenos Aires, losing 36-22.
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
from 1980 to 1981.
Rugby union career
O'Brien played club rugby for Broughton ParkBroughton Park RUFC
Broughton Park RUFC, is one of the oldest rugby union clubs in England and was established in 1882, just one year after the Lancashire County Rugby Union was founded and eleven years after the formation of the national Rugby Football Union.-History:...
and made his international debut on 19 January 1980 at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
in the England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
vs Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
match that was won by England 24-9. He later toured South Africa with Ireland in 1981
1981 Ireland rugby union tour of South Africa
- Matches :Ireland embarked on their first tour to South Africa after a twenty year absence on the back of a five nations championship which they were widely considered to be favourites to win but ended with four defeats having lost all their matches for the first time since 1977...
. He came on against South Africa as a reserve in the 23-15 loss at Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium, currently referred to as DHL Newlands for sponsorship reasons, is located in Cape Town, South Africa.The stadium currently has a capacity of 51,900 people, but is not an all seater venue....
, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. He was selected to start against South Africa in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
at Kings Park Stadium
Kings Park Stadium
Kings Park , is a stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa, which was originally built in 1891 and extensively renovated in the 1990s...
. In that final match O'Brien scored a try, but Ireland narrowly lost 12 points to 10. He was a member of the famous North team which beat the All Blacks at Otley on 17 November 1979. He was one of four Broughton Park players in this side and was joined by teammates Tony Neary
Tony Neary
Anthony "Tony" Neary is a former England international rugby union player. He represented England at U18's basketball as well as rugby. He attended De La Salle College, Salford and Liverpool University before qualifying as a solicitor....
, Tony Bond
Tony Bond (rugby union)
Tony Bond , is a former rugby union international who represented England from 1978 to 1982.-Rugby union career:Bond started his rugby career playing for Broughton Park and moved to Sale during the 1977-78 season...
in the centre and Jim Sydall in the second row. He also played for a World XV
World XV
A World XV is a rugby union team, typically composed of invited players from various countries. Various World XVs have been arranged from time to time, often to take part in celebration and testimonial games, usually against national teams; recent World XV games have generally not been considered...
on 9 August 1980 against in Buenos Aires, losing 36-22.