Claude Augustus O'Donnell
- 2Caps
- 128Wallaby Number
PositionHooker
Date Of BirthJanuary 30, 1886
Place of BirthSydney
SchoolNot Known / Christian Brothers, Newtown
Debut ClubGlebe (Sydney)
ProvinceNSW
Debut Test Match1913 Wallabies v New Zealand, 1st Test Wellington
Final Test Match1913 Wallabies v New Zealand, 2nd Test Dunedin
DiedAugust 5, 1953
Biography
Claude O’Donnell was born in Paddington, Sydney, on 30 January 1886. After leaving school he began employment as a tailor’s presser and joined the Glebe Rugby Club. Between 1912 and 1914 he was selected to play for NSW on nine occasions as either a prop forward, a backrower or as a second-rower. In 1913 he toured New Zealand with Larry Dwyer’s Wallabies as a hooker and played in two of the three Test matches against the All Blacks. In addition, he played in four other matches against New Zealand teams. After the 1914 season O’Donnell switched to rugby league. He died on August 4 1953.
Claude O’Donnell, who wore his hair parted down the middle, played hooker on the 1913 Wallaby tour to New Zealand. He played in the first six games, but was not in the final three, so it has to be assumed that he was injured. He played against Auckland (13-15), Taranaki (11-9), Wanganui (6-11), the first Test at Wellington against New Zealand (5-30), Southland (8-13), and the second Test at Dunedin (13-25). So in his career he played in two Tests and four non-Test matches, as well as nine games for NSW, 1912-1914. His first Test was at Athletic Park, Wellington, on 6 September 1913. It was a one-sided game. The Australian team on that day was Michael McMahon, Ernest Carr, Larry Wogan, Hubert Jones, Dudley Suttor, Bill Tasker, Fred Wood, Ernest Cody, Fred Thompson, Paddy Murphy, Ted Fahey (capt.), Doss Wallach, Harald George, Claude O’Donnell and Willie Watson.
Claude O’Donnell, who wore his hair parted down the middle, played hooker on the 1913 Wallaby tour to New Zealand. He played in the first six games, but was not in the final three, so it has to be assumed that he was injured. He played against Auckland (13-15), Taranaki (11-9), Wanganui (6-11), the first Test at Wellington against New Zealand (5-30), Southland (8-13), and the second Test at Dunedin (13-25). So in his career he played in two Tests and four non-Test matches, as well as nine games for NSW, 1912-1914. His first Test was at Athletic Park, Wellington, on 6 September 1913. It was a one-sided game. The Australian team on that day was Michael McMahon, Ernest Carr, Larry Wogan, Hubert Jones, Dudley Suttor, Bill Tasker, Fred Wood, Ernest Cody, Fred Thompson, Paddy Murphy, Ted Fahey (capt.), Doss Wallach, Harald George, Claude O’Donnell and Willie Watson.
