Irish Internationals

43 Michael Kiernan 1982-1991 * capped also with Lansdowne
30 Terry Kingston 1987-1996
29 A.J.F O’Reilly 1955-1970 *capped also with Old Belvedere & others.
28 J S McCarthy 1948-1955
24 Tomás O’Leary 2007-2012
22 John O’Meara 1951-1958
21 Phil O’Callaghan 1967-1976
20 Charlie Hanrahan 1926-1932
Mick Doyle  1965-68  capped also with UCD, Cambridge University & Blackrock College

Niall Scannell  2017 –
19 Michael Bradley 1920-1927
16 Fergus Aherne 1988-1992* capped also with Lansdowne

12 Paddy Lawlor 1951-1956 * capped also with Clontarf
Bertie O’Hanlon 1947-1950
6 Maurice Mortell 1953-1954

Jack Clarke 1991-1992
5 Gerald Reidy 1953-1954
3 Fred Williamson 1930
3 Ted Ryan 1937-1938
James Cronin 2014

Rory Scannell 2017
2 Henry Wall 1965
1 Jack Mahony 1923
1 James Downey 2013

War Time Unofficial International

D B O’Loughlin

US Eagles
John Quill 2012- 34 Caps
Finland
Jussi Viljanen 27 caps

James Coughlan played for Ireland v Barbarians in May 2012, but it was an uncapped international.
Dave B O’Loughlin played for Ireland when with UCC but his appearances when with Dolphin were in unofficial internationals during the 2nd World War. He was playing for Garryowen after the war when full internationals restarted.

Internationals who subsequently played for Dolphin
Dr Donal Sullivan (1922) Tommy Headon (1939) D B O’Loughlin, Mick Lane, Dick Roche, David O’ Mahony, Darragh O’Mahony, Denis Hurley.
Julien Brugnaut a French International also played with Dolphin.

Internationals who played for Dolphin before being capped

Darren Sweetnam , Paul McCarthy and Alfred Atkins (1921) all played for Dolphin prior to being capped for Ireland. Paddy Ryan featured for Dolphin before he played for US Eagles.

Ireland Captains

J S McCarthy

Terry Kingston

 

British & Irish Lions

Michael Bradley  No. 223

J S McCarthy        No. 332

A J F O’Reilly  (Old Belvedere)  No. 382

Michael Lane  (UCC)  No. 329

Michael Kiernan   No. 582

Mick Doyle (Blackrock College) No 464

International Referees

Capt Michael Dowling     1951  Scot v S Africa, Eng v Scot, Wales v Eng

1952 France v S Africa

1953  Eng v Scotland

1955 Wales v Scotland


International Coaches

Ireland

Mick Doyle          1984-87

Declan Kidney    2008-13

British & Irish Lions

Mick Doyle        1986

Samoa

Steve Jackson    2018-20

Irish Internationals (in alphabetical order)
Fergus Aherne (Int  No 848) 1988-1992 (16 Caps – 1 with Dolphin, 15 with Lansdowne) 1 Try
Captained UCC to win the Munster Senior league in 1984/85 and also represented Irish Universities. Won his first international cap 23.04.1988 with Dolphin before he earned an interprovincial cap. Moved to Dublin and declared for Leinster, won a Leinster Senior Cup medal with Lansdowne in 1991.He toured many times with Ireland, to France in 1988, North America in 1989, Namibia 1991 and New Zealand 1992. A member of the 1991 World Cup squad.

Michael Bradley (Int No 403)  1920-1927 19 Caps

He was the Clubs First International, Michael J Bradley. He won the first of his 19 caps against Wales on 13/3/1920 at hooker and also played prop. Ireland were joint Championship winners in 1926 & 1927.

He toured South Africa in 1924 with the Lions featuring in 13/17 non test games scoring one try but did not play in the tests. He played 15 times for Munster, scoring 2 tries, 3 penalties and 1 conversion.

Jack Clarke (Int No 871) 1991-1992 6 caps
Jack was capped at every level, Schools, U/21, U/23, B, and Senior. He scored a try on his senior international debut v Wales 16/2/91. He also represented Ireland at international level at the javelin. He was on the Munster team that defeated Australia in October 1992 at Musgrave Park. He captained Munster U/20 and toured with Ireland to Italy 1989 (U21′s),Namibia in 1991 and New Zealand 1992.

James Cronin (Int No. 1062)   2014  – 3 Caps
James made his senior Munster debut at the end of 2012-13 season, an excellent 2013-14 led to the loose head making his Ireland debut 13 months later against Argentina on 13/06/2014.

James Downey (Int No 1054) 2013– 1 Cap
James (re)joined Munster for 2012-13 from Northampton and was based in Cork and allocated to Dolphin RFC, however he did not have the opportunity to play AIL for Dolphin. He was called up as a replacement for Ireland’s 2013 North American Tour and started his first international v Canada on 15/06/2013.

Mick Doyle (Int No. 707)  1965-68  20 caps

Mick made his international debut on 23/01.65, he played for Dolphin twice in 1965, in the four week period between his 4th & 5th Caps. Played with B & I Lions in 1968, coached Ireland to Triple Crown & Championship and also the B & I Lions tour in 1986.

Charles J Hanrahan (Int No. 461 ) 1926-1932 20 caps 1 try
A Banker by profession, also played with the Cork Bankers Club. learned his rugby at Castleknock College. He made his debut on 27.02.26, his early caps were at No 8, scored an international try v Wales in just his 2nd appearance. He was best known as a prop, and one stage was joined by Michael Bradley at hooker. He also played one game in the 2nd row. Captained Munster v Ulster in November 1927, the first time the sides met outside of Dublin. He played 17 times for Munster, 17 consecutive appearances over nine seasons, scoring two penalties and three conversions.
He was an international selector between 1946/49 and in 1955/56 he became the first Dolphin man to hold the office of IRFU President.

Michael Kiernan (Int No. 813)  43 Caps 1982-1991 308 points (6 tries, 40 con,6 dg, 62pen)

Dolphin’s most capped international and up until the professional era, the highest Irish points scorer. His most famous kick was the drop goal, which captured the Triple Crown v England in 1985. Amongst his other honours were two Schools international caps with PBC, was the Irish 200m champion and represented Ireland v Scotland in an Athletics International. He made his international debut as a substitute v Wales on 23.01.82 with Ireland going on to win the Triple Crown. He played in three Lions Tests in New Zealand. He also earned Lions honours in 1986 in the Lions against Rest of The World game celebrating the centenary of the International Board. He was included on Irish tours to South Africa 1981, Japan 1985 & North America in 1989.

Terry Kingston  (Int No.835)  1987-1996 30 Caps 2 tries
Terry joined Dolphin from CBC having earned three international schools caps. He played 55 times with Munster captaining the side in victory over Australia. His first international cap was against Wales in the inaugural World Cup on 25.05. 87, he captained his country for the first of six times in the 1991 World Cup and was the World Cup Captain when it came around again in 1995. He also was included in the following Irish Tours, North America 1989, Namibia 1991, New Zealand 1992 & Australia in 1994.

Paddy Lawlor (Int No. 596) 1951-56 12 caps

2nd Row- He played just three times for Munster, he was a Garda stationed in Cork, he later returned to Clontarf and represented Leinster 13 times. He made his international debut on 24.02.51, toured with Ireland to Argentina + Chile in 1952.

Jack Mahony 1923 (Int No. 434)  1 Cap
He attended CBC and excelled at many sports- he was school handball champion, captained the school swimming team to Munster Schools Senior Squadron title in 1917 & 1918. He hurled with the CBC team that was beaten by Farranferris in the final of Cork Schools Cup,and then there was rugby.He captained CBC to the Cork Senior Schools title in 1918 and also captained the Munster Schools team. In 1921, he captained the Irish Giants against the Yankee Invaders at the Mardyke in the Baseball Championship of Ireland.
His rugby career was short; he gained one International cap v England 10.02.23 and was a travelling substitute for the Scotland and Wales games. The following year he suffered a serious injury in the Munster trial and did not play again until 1925, when he was again substitute against England and Scotland. In 1926 he retired owing to a recurrent injury. Jack was a brother of Nacey Mahony, who became IRFU President also he also represented Ireland at water polo.

J S (Jim) McCarthy (Int No. 572) 1948-55 28 Caps 8 Tries

Captained Ireland four times (the first Munster man to do so) and scored total of eight tries, including one on his debut against France 01.01.48. His most famous try was his try that clinched the Triple Crown for Ireland in 1949 in Swansea. Toured with the Lions to Australia + New Zealand in 1950 and with Ireland two years later to Argentina + Chile.

Maurice Mortell (Int No. 611) 1953-54 9 caps 5 tries

While the Bandon born winger was only capped nine times, his debut being against France on 24.01.53, he scored five tries, including one in each of his first three games. Won Leinster Senior cup medals with Bective Rangers in 1955 + 1956 and played 12 times for Leinster. He then won a Munster  Senior Cup medal with Bohemians in 1958.

Phil O’Callaghan (Int No. 717)  1967-76 21 caps
Philo made his Munster Senior Cup debut in 1961, having taken up the game the previous season and played in the competition every year up to 1980. he also had a long Irish career 1967-76 getting 21 caps, despite a six year gap between 1970-76. He made his debut on 21/1/1967 in the historic 15-8 victory over Australia. (First time an Irish team defeated a Southern Hemisphere on their own soil) He also represented the Barbarians between 1967/69 and toured Australia, Argentina & New Zealand with Ireland.

Bertie O’Hanlon (Int No. 559)  1947-50 12 caps 3 Tries

Born in Ballyclough, Mallow, he was introduced to rugby at PBC before boarding at Rockwell College where he won a Munster Schools cup medal. An all round sportsman, he also represented Rockwell at Gaelic Football and was South of Ireland sprint champion over 100 and 220 yards and long jump champion for two years. He was selected 13 times for Ireland, but had to cry off against Australia in 1947 because of injury. He had a short international career of four seasons (1947-1950) that was littered with honours, two Triple Crown’s and the Grand Slam. The pinnacle of his career should have been the Lions tour of New Zealand & Australia in 1950,in those days the tours lasted 6 months and he was asked by the IRFU to allow his name go forward but his employers would not release him. He scored two tries on his International debut, a 22-0 victory over England on 8/2/1947.

Tomás O’Leary (Int No. 1004)  2007-12 24 caps 3 tries

His early sporting days were playing hurling, his father Seanie was a well known Cork Hurler, he captained Cork to a Minor All Ireland. Played in the U21 world Cup final and in addition to his full caps played nine times for Ireland A. Made his debut v Argentina on 26.05.07, he was a member of the 2009 Grand Slam winning team, selected for the Lions Tour to South Africa but broke his ankle days after the the squad was announced. Played 127 times for Munster scoring 10 tries, two conversions and a penalty. After seven seasons with Munster he joined London Irish before returning after 3 seasons.

John O’Meara (Int No. 593)  1951-58 22 caps 2 tries

John learned his rugby at CBC and Clongowes Wood. He earned the first of his 22 caps in a narrow 9-8 victory over France on 27/1/1951. He had a lengthy partnership with Jack Kyle (19 games) and scored two tries. When at UCC he won Munster Senior Cup medals in 1949/50 and 1950/51, he captained the Dolphin team to victory in 1955/56 but unfortunately had to sit out the final with a broken thumb.

A J F (Tony) O’Reilly (Int No. 628)  1955-70    29 caps 4 Tries

Tony O’Reilly spent two years in Cork and played for Dolphin in 1960/61 & 1961/62 during his tenure on the Irish team. Capped a total of 29 times for Ireland, his first cap came on 22/1/1955 against France at 18 years of age and after only 6 senior club games. One of those games was against Dolphin where O’Reilly got a couple of early tries. He played on the Leinster schools team for three years and was also a schools cricket interprovincial. He celebrated his 19th birthday on the 1955 Lions tour to South Africa where he scored 16 tries. Four years later he set a Lions record of 22 tries in the 33-match tour of New Zealand, Australia & Canada. He combined a successful business and sporting career and when he was dropped in 1963 everyone thought that it was the end of a great career but when there was a late cry off for the England game in 1970 O’Reilly to everyone’s surprise got the call up. He was always a prolific try scorer; in both 1956 and 1957 he scored 40 tries for Old Belvedere from the centre position. Because of his business career he played for many clubs, including UCD, Old Belvedere, Dolphin, Leicester and London Irish.

Gerald Reidy (Int No. 618)  1953-54   5 caps

Gerald was a fine backrow forward who won five caps between 1953&54.He first played in a Dolphin jersey with the Youths in Ballintemple in 1939.He played for Munster 20 times, showing his versatility by playing in the front, second and ck rows. He won his first cap (13/3/54)  and a Leinster Senior Cup while with Lansdowne. He was IRFU President in 1983/84. Always a true Dolphin man, he was Club President twice, in1967/68 and the Centenary President.

Ted Ryan (Int no. 529)   1937-38 3 Tries

Scariff born, Ryan was Dolphin’s fifth International player was yet another prop.
He earned the first of his three caps in a 5-3 victory over Wales at Ravenhill on 03.04.37 and captained Dolphin for two seasons.

Niall Scannell (Int No. 1090)  2017 – 20 caps 1 try
In the modern era, making your debut in 6 Nations is unusual, even more so when its to start, which is what Niall did v Italy on 11/02/2017. Four months later he scored his first try v US Eagles, the first time in the professional era that Munster Brothers played together for Ireland when Rory came on- and former team mate John Quill was on the score board for the Eagles.
He followed in the footsteps of Terry Kingston playing hooker in the  2019  RWC.

Rory Scannell (Int No. 1093) 2017 – 3 caps 3 cons
Made his debut v USA Eagles on  10.06.17 and made his first start v Japan a week later. Youngest player to make 100 appearances for Munster. Also in the provisional training squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Henry Wall (Int No. 710)  1965     2 Caps

The former Castleknock College student, Henry went on to UCD to study Veterinary. He captained UCD for two seasons, 1960/61 & 1961/62. After qualification he returned to his native Cork, he was Dolphin captain in 1964 when Dolphin were defeated in the Munster Senior Cup final. He made his international debut at No 8 in a 16-6 victory over Wales on 27/2/1965, the first of his two caps. Another highlight from 1965 was being on the Combined Universities team (current & past students) the first Irish Team to defeat South Africa (12-10 in Thomond Park)

Fred Williamson   (Int No. 480) 1930   3 caps

Wexford born Fred W Williamson, a full back, became Dolphin’s first International Back on 8/2/1930 and started his international career with a 4-3 victory over England; it was the first of three caps. He later moved to Dublin and joined Wanderers.