Niall Brophy
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Niall Brophy
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Niall Henry Brophy
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|09|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|3|10|1935|9|19|df=y}}
| death_place =
| height = {{height|m=1.83}}
| weight = 83 kg
| ru_currentclub = Retired
| position = Wing
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = UCD
| amatteam2 = Blackrock College R.F.C.
| ru_amclubcaps =
| ru_amclubpoints =
| clubs1 = Leinster
| years1 =
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| ru_clubupdate =
| repyears1 = 1957–67
| repteam1 = Ireland
| repteam2 = Lions
| repcaps1 = 20
| repcaps2 = 2
| reppoints1 = 12
| reppoints2 = 0
| ru_ntupdate = 27 Jan 2012
| school = O'Connell School and Blackrock College
}}
Niall Henry Brophy (19 September 1935 – 10 March 2023) was an Irish rugby union player. He represented University College Dublin R.F.C., Blackrock College R.F.C., London Irish R.F.C., Barbarian F.C., Leinster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He played as a winger. He also represented UCD and IUAA in athletics.{{Cite web |title=Athlete: Niall Brophy (#4773) |url=https://sindar.net/iuaa/results/athlete/4773/#Records%20Set |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=sindar.net}}
Early life in sports
Brophy grew up in Clontarf with a keen interest in several sports and attended school in O'Connell School, where he was a keen athlete and member of Ronnie Delaney's relay team there.{{Cite web |last=School |first=O'Connell Secondary |title=School Campus & Facilities |url=http://oconnellschool.ie/Page/School-Campus-Facilities/47452/Index.html |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=O'Connell Secondary School |language=English}} He subsequently attended Blackrock College. In 1954, he was Leinster Schools Athletic champion in both 100 yards and 220 yards{{Cite web |date=2021-01-21 |title=Leinster Schools Athletics Champions 1924-2020 |url=https://www.rockunion.ie/news/from-the-archives/71/71-Leinster-Schools-Athletics-Champions-1924- |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Blackrock College Union |language=en}} and also took the same titles in the Irish Schools Athletics Championship.{{Cite web |last1=Callaghan |first1=Pierce |last2=Smyth |first2=Cyril |date=December 2017 |title=Irish Schools Athletics Champions 1916-2017|url=https://www.athleticsireland.ie/downloads/statistics/Schools_ROH_1916-2017.pdf |website=Athletics Ireland}} That same year, on St. Patrick's Day, Brophy captained Blackrock College to victory over Belvedere, captained by future Irish rugby teammate Tony O'Reilly, in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup (11–3).{{Cite news |title=From the Archives: St Patrick's Day 1954 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/from-the-archives-st-patrick-s-day-1954-1.639068 |access-date=2022-10-16 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}
UCD rugby and athletics
Brophy graduated with a B.Comm from UCD. In athletics, Brophy had five appearances for UCD in Track & Field Championships in Ireland, taking gold in both the 100 yards and 220 yards in 1956 and again in 1960.{{Cite web |title=Athlete: Niall Brophy (#4773) |url=https://sindar.net/iuaa/results/athlete/4773/#Records%20Set |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=sindar.net}}
In rugby, Brophy, along with teammate Bill Mulcahy, became the first UCD players to represent the British and Irish Lions (then known as the British Lions), during their tour to Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://www.ucdrugby.com/Down_Through_the_Years/Default.49.html|title=ucdrugby.com - Down Through The Years|work=ucdrugby.com|accessdate=27 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003001133/http://www.ucdrugby.com/Down_Through_the_Years/Default.49.html|archivedate=3 October 2011}}
Ireland
Brophy made his Ireland debut against France on 26 January 1957, during the 1957 Five Nations Championship. He scored his first try for Ireland in this game.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/19875.html|title=Ireland 11-6 France|work=espnscrum.com|accessdate=27 January 2012}} His last test for Ireland was against Australia during Ireland's tour there in May 1967. Ireland won the match 5–11.{{Cite journal |date=2011-09-17 |title=As It Happened: Ireland 15-6 Australia |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby-world-cup-2019/2011/0917/284952-live_ireland_usa_rwc/ |language=en}}
British and Irish Lions
Brophy received his first Lions call-up in 1959 for the tour to Australia and New Zealand, but was not capped on this tour because of injury. He was called up again for the 1962 tour to South Africa, and this time won 2 Lions caps.{{Cite web |last=jmcconnell |date=2016-10-10 |title=Your Club Your Lions: Blackrock College |url=https://www.lionsrugby.com/2016/10/11/your-club-your-lions-blackrock-college/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=British & Irish Lions |language=en-GB}}
After rugby
Brophy was President of the Leinster Branch in 1981–82, Blackrock College RFC in 1985-86 and the IRFU in 1997–98. He was inducted into the Rugby Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame in 2003,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2941454.stm|title=Murphy wins Irish honour|date=28 May 2003|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=27 January 2012}} and into the Guinness Hall of Fame in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/8043.php|title=Nacewa Bags Top Honour At Leinster Awards Ball|date=7 May 2011|work=leinsterrugby.ie|accessdate=27 January 2012}}
Brophy was also named in UCD's 'Team of the Century'.{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Richard |date=2011-03-31 |title=UCD celebrate Team of the Century... |url=https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/ucd-celebrate-team-of-the-century/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Leinster Rugby |language=en}}
Brophy was a regular golfer, playing in Portmarnock, Foxrock and Royal Porthcawl. He died on 10 March 2023, at the age of 87.{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=John |title=Former Lions and Ireland wing Niall Brophy dies aged 87 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/03/10/former-lions-and-ireland-wing-niall-brophy-dies-aged-87/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=10 March 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.irishrugby.ie/squads/index.php?player=23640&includeref=dynamic IRFU profile]
- [http://www.lionsrugby.com/6012.php?player=16284&includeref=dynamic Lions profile]
- {{ESPNscrum|6110}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1959}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1962}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brophy, Niall}}
Category:Rugby union players from Dublin (city)
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Ireland international rugby union players
Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Ireland
Category:University College Dublin R.F.C. players
Category:Blackrock College RFC players
Category:People educated at Blackrock College
Category:People from Clontarf, Dublin
Category:Irish sports executives and administrators