Laurie O’Reilly (died 1998) was a New Zealand rugby union coach, lawyer, lecturer and New Zealand's Commissioner for Children from 1994 to 1997. He was the first coach of the New Zealand women's national team, the Black Ferns.

Early career

O’Reilly was a family lawyer in Christchurch, and he served as New Zealand's Commissioner for Children from 1994 to 1997. He was also a law lecturer at the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was ...

, where he coached the men's team. His daughter

Lauren Lauren may be a given name or surname.The name's meaning may be "laurel tree", "sweet of honor", or "wisdom". It is derived from the French name Laurence, a feminine version of Laurent, which is in turn derived from the Roman surname Laurentius. ...

is a former Black Fern.

Coaching career

In 1988, O’Reilly coached the Crusadettes, the University of Canterbury Women's team, and they toured the United States and Europe. A year later he selected the first women's team to represent New Zealand. O’Reilly had a hand in organising

RugbyFest 1990 RugbyFest 1990 (officially the "Women's World Rugby Festival") was a two-week festival of women's rugby, held in Christchurch, New Zealand between 19 August and 1 September 1990. The event has been inflated sometimes to the status of a mini-world ...

in Christchurch. It was a two-week women's rugby festival that featured national teams from the Netherlands, the United States and USSR. On 22 July 1989, the first official New Zealand women's team played the California Grizzlies, a touring side from the United States, at Lancaster Park in Christchurch. He coached the team to the inaugural

1991 Women's Rugby World Cup The 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup was the first Women's Rugby World Cup. The tournament was not approved by the International Rugby Board (IRB), yet it still went ahead despite the disapproval of the sports governing body. France confirmed their par ...

in Wales. The Laurie O'Reilly Cup is named in his honour. New Zealand and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

have competed for it annually since 1994.

Death

O’Reilly died from cancer in 1998. He held a living funeral before his death; Wayne Smith, who was mentored by O’Reilly, spoke at the event.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Reilly, Laurie 1998 deaths Children's Ombudspersons in New Zealand New Zealand rugby union coaches New Zealand women's national rugby union team coaches