Mike O'Neill (rugby league)

Mike O'Neill
Personal information
Full name Michael O'Neill[1]
Nickname Mike
Born (1960-11-29) 29 November 1960
Widnes, Lancashire
Playing information
Position Prop

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1977–90 Widnes 414 72
1990–91 Rochdale Hornets
1991–94 Leeds <60
1994–1995 Widnes
Total 72 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Lancashire 9
1982–83 Great Britain 4 0 0 0 0

Michael "Mike" O'Neill (born 29 November 1960) is an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, playing at representative level for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for Widnes (twice), Rochdale Hornets, and Leeds, as a prop, i.e. number 8 or 10.

Playing career

International honours

Mike O'Neill won caps for Great Britain while at Widnes in 1982, against France and Australia, and in 1983, against France (2 matches).[2]

In addition to the above Test Matches, Mike O'Neill played left-prop, i.e. number 8, in Great Britain's 7-8 defeat by France in the friendly at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, Venice on Saturday 31 July 1982; he also played 5-times for Great Britain Under-24 team.

Mike O'Neill was selected for the 1984 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Championship appearances

Mike O'Neill played in Widnes' victories in the Championship during the 1987–88 season, and 1988–89 season.

Premiership Final appearances

Mike O'Neill played in Widnes' 19-5 victory over Bradford Northern in the Premiership Final during the 1979–80 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 17 May 1980, the 23-8 victory over Hull F.C. in the Premiership Final during the 1981–82 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 May 1982, the 22-10 victory over Hull F.C. in the Premiership Final during the 1982–83 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 14 May 1983, the 38-14 victory over Hull F.C. in the Premiership Final during the 1987–88 season at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday 15 May 1988, the 18-10 victory over St. Helens in the Premiership Final during the 1988–89 season at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday 14 May 1989, and the 28-6 victory over Bradford Northern in the Premiership Final during the 1989–90 season at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday 13 May 1990.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Mike O'Neill played as an interchange/substitute in Widnes' 18-9 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1979 Challenge Cup Final during the 1978–79 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979, in front of a crowd of 94,218, played left-prop, i.e. number 8, the 18-9 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1981 Challenge Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1981, in front of a crowd of 92,496, played left-prop, i.e. number 8, in the 14-14 draw with Hull F.C. in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final during the 1981–82 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 92,147, played left-prop in the 9-18 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1982 Challenge Cup Final replay during the 1981–82 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Wednesday 19 May 1982, in front of a crowd of 41,171, and played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, the 18-9 victory over Wigan in the 1984 Challenge Cup Final during the 1983–84 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1984, in front of a crowd of 80,116, and was as an interchange/substitute, i.e. number 15, in Leeds' 16-26 defeat by Wigan in the 1994 Challenge Cup Final during the 1993–94 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 30 April 1994, in front of a crowd of 78,348, in doing so he set, and still holds, the record for the longest time span between first and last Challenge Cup Final appearances.

John Player/John Player Special Trophy Final appearances

Mike O'Neill played(?) in Widnes' 16-4 victory over Warrington in the 1978–79 John Player Trophy Final during the 1978–79 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 28 April 1979, played wing, i.e. number 8, in the 10-18 defeat by Leeds in the 1983–84 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1983–84 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 14 January 1984, and played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in the 6-12 defeat by Wigan in the 1988–89 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1988–89 season at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 7 January 1989.[3]

Rugby League Charity Shield

Mike O'Neill played in Widnes' 20-14 victory over Wigan in the Charity Shield during the 1988–89 season at Okells Bowl, Douglas, Isle of Man on Sunday 21 August 1988, and the 27-22 victory over Wigan in the Charity Shield during the 1989–90 season at Anfield, Liverpool on Sunday 27 August 1989.

Genealogical information

Mike O'Neill is the brother of the rugby league footballer, Steve O'Neill.

References

  1. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "7th January 1989: Wigan 12 Widnes 6 (John Player Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
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