About John O'Brien
Lived 1871 – 1946 (aged 74). John O'Brien was a New Zealand rugby union player.
John O'Brien (28 October 1871 – 25 April 1946) was a New Zealand international rugby union player.
O'Brien was born in Greymouth and was the son of a local hotel keeper.
A forward, O'Brien played his early rugby for West Coast club Oriental and in 1898 linked up with Athletic in Wellington, from where he gained his New Zealand call up. He made his New Zealand debut against Wellington in 1901, a warm up match prior to their "international" with New South Wales, for which he wasn't to be selected.
O'Brien, a police sergeant, was married with two daughters and two sons.
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Important facts
People in John O'Brien's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John O'Brien?
New Zealand international rugby union player
When was John O'Brien born?
John O'Brien was born on 28 October 1871.
When did John O'Brien die?
John O'Brien died on 25 April 1946.
What was John O'Brien's occupation?
John O'Brien was a rugby union player.
What nationality was John O'Brien?
John O'Brien was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John O'Brien (rugby union)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John O'Brien. https://biography.guide/john-o-brien-rugby-union-player/
MLA: "John O'Brien." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-o-brien-rugby-union-player/.
Chicago: "John O'Brien." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-o-brien-rugby-union-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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