Andrew O'Brien (rugby)

Jim O'Brien
Personal information
Full name Andrew James O'Brien
Born 6 September 1897(1897-09-06)
Blenheim, New Zealand
Died 9 May 1969(1969-05-09) (aged 71)
Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Weight 87 kg (13 st 10 lb)
Rugby union
Position Hooker, Loose Forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1919–1921 Marlborough
1922–1923 Auckland
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1922 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
Position Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1924–1928 Marist (ARL)
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1924–1928 Auckland
1924–1928 New Zealand 5 2 0 0 6
Source: Scrum.com RLP

Andrew James "Jim" O'Brien (1897–1969) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented his country in rugby union and rugby league.

Rugby union career

O'Brien began his career playing rugby union for Marlborough between 1919 and 1921. He also played for a combined Nelson-Marlborough-Golden Bay-Motueka side against the 1921 Springboks in the side's 26-3 defeat.[1] In that game he lined up alongside fellow future dual-international Charles Fitzgerald.

In 1922 he moved north to Auckland, joining the Grafton club. He immediately was selected for the North Island side and subesquently the All Blacks tour of New Zealand and South Wales.[1] He finished the tour having played in 3 games and scored one try. Returning to Auckland, O’Brien played his first game for the union late in the 1922 season. In 1923 he played five games for Auckland.

Rugby league career

O'Brien switched to rugby league in 1924, joining Marist in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He played for Auckland and made the New Zealand Kiwis for three tests against the touring Great Britain Lions side that year. He toured Australia in 1925 and gained another two Kiwi test caps playing against Great Britain when they toured again in 1928.[2]

In 1929 he served as the secretary of the Marist club.

References

  1. ^ a b Jim O'Brien allblacks.com'
  2. ^ O'BRIEN, Andrew James 1924 - 25, 1928 - Kiwi #157 nzleague.co.nz