Player

Des O'Brien - Back row

Cardiff
Back
Des O'Brien
Date Of Birth22/05/1919
ClubsCardiff, London Irish
HonoursIreland
ManagedBritish and Irish Lions
Desmond Joseph O Brien was born in Dublin in 1919, he was one of the greatest back-row forwards of his era and one of Irelands all time sportsman. As well as being capped 20 times for Ireland, he played 14 internationals at squash, was a Welsh hockey international and tennis reserve. He won his first Irish cap at the age of 28 against England in 1948, and was captain for five games in 1951 - 52. Joining Cardiff in 1950 - 51 he played 31 matches and was asked to captain the side the following season, he declined and retired from the game. After retiring from rugby he went on to play hockey and was captain of the Cardiff hockey club and represented Wales.
In 1966 Desmond was manager of the British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand.
He died in 2005 aged 86 in Midlothian, Scotland.
COMPETITION PLAYED T C P DG PTS YC RC
1951 South Africa Tour of UK & France 1 + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TEAM P W D L PF PA PTS
Newport 22 19 0 3 725 396 94
Llandovery 21 19 0 2 690 331 90
Ebbw Vale 20 14 0 6 615 384 71
Cardiff 21 12 1 8 579 492 63
Pontypridd 21 10 1 10 470 501 53
Pontypool 19 11 0 8 480 455 51
Merthyr 18 10 0 8 458 470 49
Aberavon 20 8 0 12 462 556 46
Bridgend Ravens 20 8 0 12 423 539 41
Swansea 19 5 0 14 377 540 30
RGC 1404 18 5 0 13 354 489 28
Carmarthen Quins 19 4 0 15 416 541 28
Neath 20 3 0 17 330 685 19