John O'Neil

John O’Neil was from a wealthy Texas oil family and attended Santa Clara University, where he learned his rugby. He was one of the organizers and provided much of the finance for the U.S. rugby tours of Europe in 1920 and 1924 and on both occasions he was rewarded with a gold medal. At the Paris Olympics, O’Neil had recently undergone an operation for appendicitis and early in the game, a kick in the stomach opened the scar from his operation. No substitutions were allowed and O’Neil knew that to come out would leave the U.S. a man short, so he courageously played the entire game.