Colin O'Neil
{{Short description|New Zealand international rugby league footballer and coach}}
{{similar names|Colm O'Neill (disambiguation)|Colin O'Neill|Colin O'Neil Browne}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Colin O'Neil
|fullname = Colin Edward O'Neil
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|position = {{rlp|HK}}
|birth_date =
|birth_place = New Zealand
|death_date =
|death_place =
|height =
|weight =
|club1 = Marist (WRL)
|year1start = 1959
|year1end = 71
|appearances1 =
|tries1 =
|goals1 =
|fieldgoals1 =
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|teamA = Wellington
|yearAstart = 1963
|yearAend = 71
|appearancesA = 74
|triesA =
|goalsA =
|fieldgoalsA =
|pointsA =
|teamB = New Zealand
|yearBstart = 1965
|yearBend = 71
|appearancesB = 21
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|teamC = North Island
|yearCstart = 1964
|yearCend = 65
|appearancesC =
|triesC =
|goalsC =
|fieldgoalsC =
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|teamD = Southern Zone
|yearDstart = 1967
|yearDend = 69
|appearancesD =
|triesD =
|goalsD =
|fieldgoalsD =
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|coachteam1 = Marist
|coachyear1start = 1971
|coachyear1end =
|coachgames1 =
|coachwins1 =
|coachdraws1 =
|coachlosses1 =
|updated =
|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/colin-o-neil/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/colin-o-neil/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}
|new = yes
}}
Colin O'Neil is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s. He represented New Zealand in the 1968 and 1970 World Cups.
Playing career
O'Neil made his first grade debut in 1959, playing for Marist in the Wellington Rugby League competition at 16 years of age.[http://wellingtonsportsawards.co.nz/default.asp?PageID=14103 2011 Sports Legends of Wellington] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618175726/http://www.wellingtonsportsawards.co.nz/default.asp?PageID=14103 |date=2012-06-18}} wellingtonsportsawards.co.nz He first played for Wellington in 1963 and made his New Zealand national rugby league team debut two years later in 1965, on the tour of Great Britain and France.[http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=O&id=436 O'NEIL, Colin Edward - 1965 - 71] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120720011400/http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=O&id=436 |date=2012-07-20}} nzleague.co.nz
O'Neil was part of the squad at the 1968 World Cup and in 1969 was made the Kiwis captain. He won the New Zealand Rugby League player of the year award in 1969, being presented with the first Steve Watene Memorial Trophy.{{cite book
| last =John Coffey, Bernie Wood
| title = 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008
| publisher =Huia Publishers
| year = 2008
| pages = 338
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC
| isbn =978-1-86969-331-2}}
Sky Rugby League Annual '98 New Zealand Rugby League, 1998 That year he was also the first winner of the Wellington Sportsman of the Year Award.[http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4979-0-0-0&sID=253706 Team of the Century - Week 7] Wellington Rugby League
In 1970 O'Neil became the first player to play over 50 games for Wellington, he is currently the second most capped player, after finishing his career with 74 caps. O'Neil also played for the North Island in 1964 and 1965 and for Southern Zone from 1967 to 1969.
O'Neil again captained the New Zealand side in 1970 and made that year's World Cup squad. O'Neil toured Great Britain and France in 1971 before retiring at the end of that season.
He had played his entire club career with Marist, winning premierships in 1963 (shared), 1965 and 1971. In 1971 O'Neil served as a player/captain/coach of the club.
Later years
In 1990 O'Neil was appointed onto the New Zealand Rugby League board of directors.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 New Zealand Rugby League, 1990.
Legacy
In 2011 O'Neil was inducted into the Legends of Wellington Sport.[http://www.sportwellington.org.nz/legends/ Sports Legends of Wellington] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110801073338/http://www.sportwellington.org.nz/legends/ |date=2011-08-01 }} wellingtonsportsawards.co.nz[http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/5055648/Herbert-joins-elite-list-with-repeat-victory-in-sports-awards Herbert joins elite list with repeat victory in sports awards] The Dominion Post, 26 May 2011
In 2012 O'Neil was named as one of the New Zealand Rugby League's Legends of League.[http://www.nzrl.co.nz/news-archive/kiwis-coach-one-of-three-new-legends-of-league-named.aspx Kiwis Coach One of Three New Legends of League Named] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130112114204/http://www.nzrl.co.nz/news-archive/kiwis-coach-one-of-three-new-legends-of-league-named.aspx |date=2013-01-12}} nzrl.co.nz, 30 October 2012 He was also named in the Wellington Rugby League's Team of the Century.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{New Zealand 1968 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{New Zealand 1970 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{Wellington Rugby League Team of the Century}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oneil, Colin}}
Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen
Category:New Zealand national rugby league team captains
Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand rugby league administrators
Category:New Zealand Rugby League board members
Category:New Zealand rugby league coaches
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:North Island rugby league team players
Category:Rugby league players from Wellington Region