James O'Donnell

James O'Donnell (1860 – 1 May 1942) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A forward, he was a member of the first New Zealand national team in 1884, and later played for New South Wales. Early life Born in Piltown, County Kilkenny in Ireland in 1860, O'Donnell left Ireland with two of his brothers and a sister to escape their "tyrannical" father. Another brother fled the country after cutting off an English soldier's ear. Settling in New Zealand, O'Donnell is thought to have served in the police force and worked as a teacher. Rugby union New Zealand Despite living in Invercargill, he represented Otago in 1883, as the Southland Rugby Union was not formed until 1887.