Jacques O'Neill

Jacques O'Neill (born (1999-05-08)8 May 1999) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker or loose forward for the Castleford Tigers in the Betfred Super League.

Jacques O'Neill
Personal information
Born (1999-05-08) 8 May 1999
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight14 st 2 lb (90 kg)[1]
Playing information
PositionHooker, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019– Castleford Tigers 29 3 0 0 12
2018(loan) → Leigh Centurions 1 0 0 0 0
2019(DR) → Halifax 1 0 0 0 0
Total 31 3 0 0 12
As of 11 September 2021
Source: [2][3][4]

He has previously played for the Leigh Centurions and Halifax in the Betfred Championship on loan and dual registration from Castleford.

Background

O'Neill was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England.

O'Neill played junior rugby league for Askam ARLFC before being signed to the Castleford Tigers academy.

Club career

Castleford Tigers

On 1 March 2019, O'Neill made his Super League début for Castleford against Hull Kingston Rovers.[5] In August, he signed a new one-year deal with the Tigers.[6] He scored his first try on 10 August against the London Broncos,[7] and finished his breakthrough season with 11 appearances.

O'Neill signed a further one-year contract extension with Castleford in September 2020; head coach Daryl Powell said of him, "Attitude wise he is spot on. He gets after things. He needs to stay focused and I'm sure he will, and he will end up being an outstanding rugby league player."[8] O'Neill made 12 appearances and scored 2 tries throughout the 2020 season, and was voted as the League Express Young Player of the Year.[9][10]

In June 2021, O'Neill signed a new two-year deal with Castleford, stating, "I've been at Cas since I was 15/16 and it has a place in my heart now, I wasn't really looking to go anywhere else."[11] A persistent hamstring injury severely disrupted his season, limiting him to just 6 appearances and forcing him to miss the 2021 Challenge Cup Final.[12][13] He underwent a hamstring re-attachment operation after his campaign was cut short, and began a steady rehabilitation process.[13][14]

Leigh Centurions (loan)

In 2018, O'Neill joined the Leigh Centurions on a short-term loan to play in the Championship Shield Final.[15] He was drafted in alongside 6 other academy players from Wigan and St Helens after the club revealed they would not have enough fit players to fulfil the fixture.[16]

Halifax (dual registration)

In 2019, O'Neill played one game for Halifax in the Championship through their dual registration arrangement with Castleford.

International career

In April 2021, O'Neill was selected in the England Knights performance squad.[17][18]

Statistics
Season Team App T G DG Pts
2018 Leigh Centurions 1 0 0 0 0
2019 Castleford Tigers 11 1 0 0 4
2019 Halifax 1 0 0 0 0
2020 Castleford Tigers 12 2 0 0 8
2021 Castleford Tigers 6 0 0 0 0
2022* Castleford Tigers 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 31 3 0 0 12

(* denotes season still competing)

References
  1. "Jacques O'Neill Biography". Castleford Tigers. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  2. "Jacques O\'Neill - Player Stats". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  3. Rugby League Project
  4. RL Record Keepers' Club
  5. "Super League: Castleford Tigers 32-16 Hull KR". BBC Sport. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  6. "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Tigers hooker signs new one-year extension". BBC Sport. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  7. "Super League: Castleford Tigers 20-6 London Broncos". BBC Sport. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  8. "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Hooker signs one-year contract extension". BBC Sport. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. "McShane & O'Neill win in League Express readers' poll". Castleford Tigers. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  10. Shaw, Matthew (3 January 2021). "McShane wins League Express Player of the Year poll". TotalRL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  11. "New deal for O'Neill". Castleford Tigers. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  12. Smith, Peter (25 June 2021). "Castleford Tigers hooker Jacques O'Neill joins casualty list three weeks ahead of Challenge Cup final meeting with St Helens". The Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. "O'Neill on journey back to full fitness". Castleford Tigers. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. "Jacques talks rehab progression". Castleford Tigers. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  15. "Featherstone 42 Leigh 10: Newman shines as Rovers lift Championship Shield". The Yorkshire Post. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  16. "Wigan Warriors loan crisis-hit Leigh FOUR players for final". Wigan Today. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  17. Thomson, Doug (27 April 2021). "England Knights squad named". TotalRL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  18. "Three Tigers in England Knights squad!". Castleford Tigers. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
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