Reuben Graeme O'Neill (; born 17 February 1995) is a New Zealand professional

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

footballer who plays as a

prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinct ...

for New Zealand province

Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth Dist ...

and the

New Zealand national team New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2012 three-match international programme for the

New Zealand Schoolboys The New Zealand Schools rugby union team, commonly referred to as the New Zealand schoolboys rugby team, is composed of secondary school students in New Zealand. Many of the players have gone on to play for professional clubs or provinces or for ...

and took part in

New Plymouth Boys' High School New Plymouth Boys' High School is a single-sex boys' state secondary school in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. The school currently caters for approximately 1300 students, including 210 boarders, on its site. The school often collaborate ...

first XV, the top representative team in secondary school.

Early life

Reuben Graeme O'Neill was born on 17 February 1995 in

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

, the son of Jarrod O'Neill and Delwyn McCurdy. O'Neill sustained multiple long-term injuries throughout his early career. In 2011 he underwent an operation to remove a bone cyst on his left foot. Later that year, he was diagnosed with diabetes which he manages daily with insulin injections. He overcame both injuries, playing strongly for

first XV and making the Taranaki under-18 side. After his last year at New Plymouth Boys', O'Neill was enrolled into the 23-man New Zealand Secondary Schools team for a two-match international series in

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

against Samoa 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 ...

. He alongside

openside flanker Flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Each team of 15 players includes two flankers, who play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside or openside flankers, numbers 6 and 7 respectively. The name comes fr ...

Lachlan Boshier Lachlan Boshier (born 16 November 1994) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a loose forward for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the in the international Super Rugby competition. Early career Boshier was bor ...

were the only two players from New Plymouth that gained selection. O'Neill also was the first

to make the national side since former New Zealand international and

representative Gordon Slater.

Professional career

2015–17

Following a back injury, O'Neill was one of four new players that were recruited by

in preparation to defend their national

ITM Cup ITM may stand for: Education * ITM Global School, an English medium co-educational day school in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India * ITM Law School, one of the professional graduate schools of ITM University * ITM-IFM, Mumbai, India * Institut Tekn ...

title for the 2015 season. He made his debut for the province, making the match-day reserves to play

after missing an opportunity to come on as a replacement against

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

the previous week. O'Neill was involved in the Taranaki under-19 side to compete at the

Jock Hobbs Michael James Bowie Hobbs (15 February 1960 – 13 March 2012), generally known as Jock Hobbs, was a New Zealand rugby union player and administrator. A Flanker (rugby union), flanker, he played for Canterbury Rugby Football Union, Canter ...

memorial tournament later that year. A week out, O'Neill snapped his achilles tendon and would require surgery after suffering a 42–10 defeat in a qualifying match against Waikato in Te Awamutu. Unavailable to injury in early 2016, O'Neill missed selection in the Chiefs development squad for their tour of

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

in April. His performance at premier club level saw him rejoin the Taranaki squad for their upcoming season after head coach

Colin Cooper Colin Terence Cooper (born 28 February 1967) is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player, he was a defender who notably played in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough. He played over 5 ...

named his inclusion during the pre-season side announcement. O'Neill started well for Taranaki, scoring his first career try in the

2016 Mitre 10 Cup The 2016 Mitre 10 Cup season was the eleventh season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on August 18, when North Harbour hosted Counties Manukau. It involved the ...

competition against Manawatu. O'Neill also appeared in their second home semi-final in three years, against

Tasman Tasman most often refers to Abel Tasman (1603–1659), Dutch explorer. Tasman may also refer to: Animals and plants * Tasman booby * Tasman flax-lily * Tasman parakeet (disambiguation) * Tasman starling * Tasman whale People * Tasman (name), ...

. O'Neill was one of 22 forwards called up into the 2017 Chiefs 41-man development squad for their second consecutive visit of Hong Kong. He also made two appearances against the

Blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

development team in March, the first taking place at

FMG Stadium Waikato FMG Stadium Waikato is a major sporting and cultural events venue in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a total capacity of 25,800. Four areas contribute to this capacity: The Brian Perry Stand holding 12,000, the WEL Networks Stand holding 8,000, the ...

serving as a curtain raiser and the rematch taking place two weeks later at Pakuranga Rugby Football Club in

. O'Neill returned for his third Mitre 10 Cup season with Taranaki after injuries sustained by fellow prop

Mike Kainga Michael "Mike" Zavala Harley Kainga (born 28 January 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who last played for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the ITM Cup. He signed for Taranaki to play in the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup. His position of choice is prop ...

. He was a part of Taranaki's historic

Ranfurly Shield The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Shield is based on a challenge system. The holding union must defend the shield in challeng ...

victory over

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...

and their impressive top of the table finish.

2018–present

O'Neill gained selection honours with the

-based side the Crusaders, on 31 January during their pre-season opener against the Hurricanes ahead of the

2018 Super Rugby season The 2018 Super Rugby season was the 23rd season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. After two seasons in which 18 teams participate ...

. He then had his selection honours with the Crusaders extended as a short-term injury cover replacement. O'Neill became a regular starter in the

2018 Mitre 10 Cup The 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season was the thirteenth season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on August 16, when North Harbour hosted Northland. It involved the top f ...

despite featuring in a disappointing Taranaki campaign that finished in last place. He returned to play in the seasons first two Ranfurly Shield defenses against

Poverty Bay Poverty Bay (Māori: ''Tūranganui-a-Kiwa'') is the largest of several small bays on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island to the north of Hawke Bay. It stretches for from Young Nick's Head in the southwest to Tuaheni Point in the north ...

and

Wanganui Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whangan ...

. At seasons-end he was awarded forward of the year for the union. Following his 2018 provincial campaign, O'Neill was called up into the wider

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987 ...

squad to prepare for the Japanese leg of the 2018 end of year tour without making a

Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hem ...

debut. O'Neill's versatility, being able to play both sides of the scrum in the prop position, caught the attention of the Chiefs selectors and was named in the franchises squad for their

2019 Super Rugby season The 2019 Super Rugby season was the 24th season of Super Rugby, an annual rugby union competition organised by SANZAAR between teams from Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. The 2019 season was the second season using the ...

Statistics

Updated: 12 June 2022 Source:''
Reuben G O'Neill Rugby History
/small>

References

External links

Reuben O'Neill
at

.com
Reuben O'Neill
at It'sRugby.co.uk {{DEFAULTSORT:ONeill, Reuben 1995 births New Zealand rugby union players Rugby union props Living people Rugby union players from New Plymouth Taranaki rugby union players Chiefs (rugby union) players Crusaders (rugby union) players People educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School