John O'Neil played rugby at Santa Clara and won two Olympic gold medals playing in the front row.

Born in South Dakota in 1898 but raised in Texas, O'Neil was a man of the world before he set sail for Antwerp in 1920. He was a tough, one might even say ornery, forward who had his appendectomy scar opened up during the 1924 Gold Medal game against France. With no subs allowed O'Neil finished the game.

Listed both as a hooker and a prop, we list him as a hooker until we hear different. What we do know is that John O'Neil was special.

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