John O'Shea (rugby union) explained

John O'Shea
Birth Name:John Patrick O'Shea
Birth Date:2 June 1940
Birth Place:Weston-Super-Mare, England
Death Place:Australia
Ru Position:Prop
Ru Amateurclubs:Penzance Newlyn
Cardiff RFC
Newbridge RFC
Cardiff RFC
Barbarian F.C.
Monmouthshire
Cornwall
Ru Nationalteam:Wales
British Lions
Ru Nationalyears:1967–1968
1968
Ru Nationalcaps:5
1
Ru Nationalpoints:(0)
(0)
Occupation:Bank Manager
School:Lewis School Pengam

John Patrick O'Shea (2 June 1940 – 24 April 2024) was a Wales international rugby union player.

Career

Educated at Lewis School Pengam, along with John Dawes, he was capped five times for Wales as a prop between 1967 and 1968.[1]

O'Shea was selected for the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa and played in the first international against . In the match against Eastern Transvaal at Springs he became the first Lion ever to be sent off for foul play, after throwing a punch.[2] He was then hit by a spectator while walking off which resulted in a brawl. Later in the tour while playing against Rhodesia, he became the first Lions prop to score two tries in a game.

O'Shea played club rugby for Cardiff between 1963 to 1970, becoming club captain in his final year. In total he played 213 games for them and scored 19 tries.[3]

Personal life and death

John Patrick O'Shea was born in Weston-Super-Mare, England, on 2 June 1940.[4]

O'Shea died from pneumonia on 24 April 2024, at the age of 83.[5] [6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. Griffiths, page 4:37
  2. Book: Thomas, Clem . Thomas, Greg . The History of The British and Irish Lions. 2001 . Mainstream Books . 1-84018-498-1 . 145.
  3. Web site: Tonight's rugby news as Wales and Lions international dies and Springboks face selection crisis . Wales Online . 2024-04-24 . 2024-04-25.
  4. Book: Griffiths, John . The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records . 1987 . J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd . London . 0-460-07003-7 . 12:32.
  5. Web site: 24 April 2024 . Former Wales and Lions prop O'Shea dies aged 83 . 24 April 2024 . BBC Sport.
  6. https://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/507854/john-patrick-oshea/?r=https://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/smh-au/ John Patrick O'Shea
  7. News: John O’Shea obituary: Good-humoured if pugilistic Welsh rugby prop . 7 May 2024 . The Times . 7 May 2024.