John O'Sullivan (rugby league)
John Charles O'Sullivan (11 August 1950 – 7 September 2018)[3] was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the team that represented New Zealand in the 1972 and 1975 World Cups.[1]
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | John Charles O'Sullivan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 August 1950 New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 7 September 2018 (aged 68) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early years
O'Sullivan attended Rosmini College.[4]
Playing career
O'Sullivan played for the Northcote Tigers in the Auckland Rugby League competition and also played in the Auckland rugby league team representing Auckland.
By 1971 he had moved to the Ponsonby club.[5]
He was first selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1971, but did not make his debut until the second test match against the Australian team in 1972.[6] He was part of the squad at the 1972 World Cup.
In 1974, O'Sullivan was part of the Auckland side that defeated Great Britain's side 11-2 at Carlaw Park. He also played in the three match test series against Great Britain for the Kiwis.[5]
In 1975 O'Sullivan played for Auckland in their victory over Wales and again played for the Kiwis in the 1975 World Championship. The World Championship match against Wales was the last of his ten test matches for New Zealand.
He moved to Wellington in 1976 and became a Wellington representative, playing for the Wellington rugby league team before retiring.
Coaching career
In 1984 he coached a Kiwi's trial team.[7] He coached the Northcote Tigers in the 1986 Auckland Rugby League competition.[8]
Retirement and death
O'Sullivan lived in Rangiora, near Christchurch, in the latter years of his life, and died on 7 September 2018 aged 68.[9]
References
- "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "John Charles O'Sullivan". New Zealand Herald. 10 September 2018.
- Rosmini College Old Boys Achievements rosmini.school.nz
- Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
- John Charles O'SULLIVAN, John Charles (1971 - 75) nzleague.co.nz
- 1984 Autex Rugby League Annual, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1984. p.p.18-31
- 1986 Lion Red Rugby League Annual, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1986. p.101
- "Kiwis mourn 1970s backline utility John O'Sullivan". Stuff.co.nz. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.