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John O'Shea

1940 – 2024

Welsh rugby union player

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About John O'Shea

Lived 1940 – 2024 (aged 83). John O'Shea was a British rugby union player.

John Patrick O'Shea (2 June 1940 – 24 April 2024) was a Wales international rugby union player.

Career Educated at Lewis School Pengam, along with John Dawes, he was capped five times for Wales as a prop between 1967 and 1968.

O'Shea was selected for the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa and played in the first international against . In the match against Eastern Transvaal at Springs he became the first Lion ever to be sent off for foul play, after throwing a punch. He was then hit by a spectator while walking off which resulted in a brawl.

Personal life and death John Patrick O'Shea was born in Weston-Super-Mare, England, on 2 June 1940.

O'Shea died from pneumonia on 24 April 2024, at the age of 83.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Lewis School Pengam

People in John O'Shea's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John O'Shea's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John O'Shea?

Welsh rugby union player

When was John O'Shea born?

John O'Shea was born on 2 June 1940 in Weston-super-Mare.

When did John O'Shea die?

John O'Shea died on 24 April 2024 in Australia.

What was John O'Shea's occupation?

John O'Shea was a rugby union player.

What nationality was John O'Shea?

John O'Shea was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John O'Shea

· Wikidata: Q6251030

· DBpedia: John O'Shea (rugby union)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John O'Shea. https://biography.guide/john-o-shea-rugby-union-player/

MLA: "John O'Shea." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-o-shea-rugby-union-player/.

Chicago: "John O'Shea." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-o-shea-rugby-union-player/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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