Arthur O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Arthur Boniface O'Brien was a New Zealand
rugby union
fullback who played club rugby for Guy's Hospital
. O'Brien is most notable for playing international rugby for the British Isles
team on its 1904 tour of Australia
, for which he was also elected team manager.
, he joined the hospital rugby team. In 1904, a British Isles team was formed to tour Australia and New Zealand, and Guy's Hospital provided four members of the team. O'Brien and fellow New Zealander Pat McEvedy
, were two of the medical staff chosen to represent the Lions against their home country. As well as being chosen to play, O'Brien was also given the task of managing the British team.
Of the 19 matches arranged for the tour, O'Brien played in 16 of them, and selected himself for all four Test games. His first match of the tour, against the New South Wales Waratahs
, saw him score four conversions.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
fullback who played club rugby for Guy's Hospital
Guy's, Kings and St. Thomas' Rugby Football Club
Guy's, Kings and St. Thomas' Rugby Football Club is the name given to the modern amalgam of three formerly distinct hospital rugby clubs each with a long history, having all been founded in the nineteenth century. The teams from Guy's Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital were the first to merge...
. O'Brien is most notable for playing international rugby for the British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team on its 1904 tour of Australia
1904 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
The 1904 British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia was the sixth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to New Zealand and Australia...
, for which he was also elected team manager.
Rugby career
New Zealand born, O'Brien came to England to study medicine. While a student at Guy's HospitalGuy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
, he joined the hospital rugby team. In 1904, a British Isles team was formed to tour Australia and New Zealand, and Guy's Hospital provided four members of the team. O'Brien and fellow New Zealander Pat McEvedy
Pat McEvedy
Patrick "Pat" Francis McEvedy was a rugby union player from New Zealand.) in 1922...
, were two of the medical staff chosen to represent the Lions against their home country. As well as being chosen to play, O'Brien was also given the task of managing the British team.
Of the 19 matches arranged for the tour, O'Brien played in 16 of them, and selected himself for all four Test games. His first match of the tour, against the New South Wales Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
, saw him score four conversions.