Former Irish rugby international Tony O’Reilly (29 caps) died on Saturday in Dublin at the age of 88
Former Irish rugby international Tony O’Reilly died on Saturday in Dublin at the age of 88, his family announced. This winger played 29 matches for the XV du Trèfle between 1955 and 1970.
He will go down in history for being the youngest player selected for the British and Irish Lions for the 1955 tour of South Africa at the age of 19. Also present on the following tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1959, he scored a total of six tries in ten test matches for the Lions.
After his sporting career, he launched into business and notably became president of the American food giant Heinz. But he also had setbacks and was even declared bankrupt in 2015 by a Bahamian court for having accumulated nearly $25 million in debt.
