James O'Neill (rugby union)

James O'Neill
CBE
Full nameJames Bowman O'Neill
Date of birth(1895-08-21)21 August 1895
Place of birthBelfast, Ireland
Date of death19 August 1968(1968-08-19) (aged 72)
Place of deathBangor, Northern Ireland
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1920 Ireland 1 (0)

James Bowman O'Neill (21 August 1895 — 19 April 1968) was an Irish international rugby union player.

O'Neill was educated at Methodist College Belfast and Queen's University Belfast.[1]

As a scrum-half, O'Neill gained his solitary Ireland cap against Scotland at Inverleith during the 1920 Five Nations Championship. He captained the Queen's University first XV and also played rugby for Collegians.[2]

O'Neill was a rugby writer for the Belfast News-Letter, under the pen name "Criticus".[1]

A civil servant, O'Neill worked in the Ministry of Home Affairs for many years and was put in charge of settling the World War II evacuees from Holland, after Germany invaded. He became assistant secretary of the ministry.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Mr. J. B. O'Neill". Belfast News-Letter. 22 April 1968.
  2. ^ a b "Former Top Civil Servant And Irish 'Cap' Dies". Belfast Telegraph. 20 April 1968.