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Barbarian Men

Anthony Joseph Francis (Kevin) O'Reilly

Wing

30

Matches

114

Points

Country

Ireland

Club

Old Belvedere

Birthdate

07/05/1936

Playing Record

Games
22 Feb 1958
National Stadium
Barbarians
11
6
Australia XV
04 Feb 1961
National Stadium
Barbarians
6
0
South Africa XV (non-cap)
04 Mar 1959
White City
Blackheath
8
21
Barbarians
04 May 1957
Thunderbird Stadium
British Columbia
6
19
Barbarians
11 May 1957
Thunderbird Stadium
British Columbia
3
17
British Isles XV(non-cap)
08 May 1957
Royal Athletic Park
British Columbia
8
51
British Isles XV(non-cap)
01 Apr 1961
National Stadium
Cardiff
11
19
Barbarians
13 Apr 1963
National Stadium
Cardiff
3
12
Barbarians
20 Apr 1957
National Stadium
Cardiff
0
40
Barbarians
09 Apr 1955
National Stadium
Cardiff
3
6
Barbarians
24 May 1958
Old Wanderers Ground
Combined Transvaal
16
18
Barbarians
28 May 1958
E.A.Union Ground
East African XV
52
12
Barbarians
01 Mar 1956
Franklin's Gardens
East Midlands
11
25
Barbarians
06 Mar 1958
Franklin's Gardens
East Midlands
14
16
Barbarians
27 Dec 1955
Welford Road
Leicester Tigers
3
12
Barbarians
27 Dec 1956
Welford Road
Leicester Tigers
6
23
Barbarians
27 Dec 1957
Welford Road
Leicester Tigers
6
25
Barbarians
12 Apr 1955
Rodney Parade
Newport
14
14
Barbarians
03 Apr 1956
Rodney Parade
Newport
14
3
Barbarians
21 May 1958
Loftus Versfeld
Northern Transvaal
9
13
Barbarians
27 Apr 1957
York Stadium
Ontario
3
47
Barbarians
30 Mar 1956
Recreation Ground
Penarth
3
9
Barbarians
14 May 1957
Montreal
Quebec
3
41
Barbarians
11 Apr 1955
St Helen's
Swansea
3
6
Barbarians
15 Apr 1963
St Helen's
Swansea
9
11
Barbarians
02 Apr 1956
St Helen's
Swansea
8
0
Barbarians
03 Apr 1961
St Helen's
Swansea
8
0
Barbarians
10 May 1958
Old Wanderers Ground
Transvaal
17
17
Barbarians
18 May 1958
Newlands
Western Province
9
8
Barbarians
14 May 1958
Olen Park
Western Transvaal
11
3
Barbarians
Statistics
30 Games Played
16 Wins
12 Losses
2 Draws
114 Points
38 Tries

Anthony Joseph Francis (Kevin) O’Reilly

Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly was born in Dublin on 7 May 1936 and educated at Belvedere College and University College, Dublin. He first played for the Barbarians at the age of 18 in the centre against Cardiff in 1955. He later switched to the wing and by 1963 had played 30 games and scored 38 tries for the Barbarians - both individual Club records that are unlikely to be surpassed. His try-scoring feats included a hat-trick against Leicester in 1957, five tries against Ontario and four against British Columbia on that year's tour of Canada, and in 1958 seven tries against East Africa. He also played in the Barbarian victories over Australia in 1958 and South Africa in 1961 and captained the Club against Cardiff in 1961. Further afield Tony O'Reilly won 29 caps for Ireland between 1955 and 1970 (when he returned for one international after an eight-year interval) and set new scoring records on two British Isles tours: in 1955 in South Africa he scored 15 tries in 16 games (including four tests) and in 1959 in Australia and New Zealand he scored 22 tries in 23 games (six tests). Away from rugby, he qualified as a solicitor, then became a global businessman and newspaper proprietor.

The Barbarians still have an important place in professional rugby. It’s even more important now to have it because everything is so intense, so pressurised and serious.

Anthony O'Reilly

Player Records, Fixtures & Results