John was a longstanding club member having joined in 1974 after a spell with Rosslyn Park. He was introduced to the club by the late John O’Neill and quickly entered into the vibrant friendliness of London Irish. John was a man who stood out in a crowd both literally and figuratively. Standing at 6 ft 10 1/2 inches and weighing around 20 stone his imposing presence was hard to miss.

Shortly after joining London Irish the wily Des Egan, newly appointed captain of the B team,
met John and instantly recognized what an asset he would be to the team. He invited John
to join the Bs and after the usual period of probation, John became a permanent member of
the team for many years, forming a formidable second row partnership with Fr Mike
Blackburn, Headmaster of the Salesian School in Battersea, and spiritual advisor to the Bs.
John thoroughly enjoyed the unique atmosphere of fun and craic which permeated the team and merged seamlessly into that eclectic bunch of rogues and troubadors, adding much to the after match jollity with his stories and occasional songs.

John went on a number of tours with the Bs and one of his, specially made, size 13 boots
still rests in a club house in Amsterdam after an infamous B team weekend spent there, viewing the tulips.

John was a regular on the B team biennial tour to Paris for the Irish International match
which gave him a chance to practice his French and sample wines as well as play rugby
against Paris University Club. On one famous occasion, John had been slightly
overindulgent in sipping the wines of Bordeaux with the team on the second floor of Le
Procope restaurant. On exiting John’s large, heavy, somnolent, frame was dexterously
maneuvered on the shoulders of his teammates down a narrow winding spiral stairway. It
was no mean feat, but once accomplished was met with admiring looks and enthusiastic applause from the other diners and staff.

In later years John was to be seen in Hazelwood on Sundays watching his grandson playing
mini rugby, thereby ensuring the London Irish connection lives on. John was a lovely decent man, a gentle and friendly giant who will be sadly missed by his many friends.

Jim O’Hara