Bernard O'Dowda

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Bernard O'Dowda

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Bernard Clement O'Dowda

| birth_date = {{birth date|1874|03|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = India

| death_date = {{death date and age|1954|07|26|1874|03|23|df=y}}

| death_place = New Plymouth, New Zealand

| height = 91 kg

| weight =

| occupation = Brewer / Oil driller

| school = Christ's College, Finchley

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Forward

| provinceyears1 = 1895–02

| province1 = {{rut|Taranaki}}

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| repyears1 = 1901

| repteam1 = {{nrut|New Zealand}}

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

}}

Bernard Clement O'Dowda (23 March 1874 — 26 July 1954) was a New Zealand international rugby union player.{{cite news |title=Stir In Rugby Circles |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBTRIB19350704.2.119 |work=Hawke's Bay Tribune |date=4 July 1935}}

Born in India, O'Dowda received his education at Christ's College, a school in London. He was a forward and played his early rugby with Brighton, from where he earned Sussex representative honours.{{cite web |title=Barney O'Dowda #88 |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=668 |website=stats.allblacks.com}}

O'Dowda immigrated to New Zealand in 1895 and two years later was called up by the All Blacks for an Australian tour, although he proved unable to make the trip.{{cite news |title=Football |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/882175743 |work=The Taranaki Herald |date=11 June 1897}} His next opportunity came in 1901 and he made two uncapped appearances for his adopted country, a practice match against Wellington and a fixture against the visiting New South Wales team.

A Taranaki player, O'Dowda was the first of three generations to play for the province, preceding son Clem and two grandchildren. He was also the father-in-law of All Black Ces Badeley.