Dion O'Cuinneagain
| Date of birth | 24 May 1972 | ||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Cape Town, South Africa | ||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 102 | ||||||||||||
| School | Rondebosch Boys' School | ||||||||||||
| University | Stellenbosch University | ||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||
| Playing career | |||||||||||||
| Position | Number 8 Flanker |
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| Professional / senior clubs | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1997–1999 1999–2000 |
Sale Sharks Ballymena RFC |
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| Provincial/State sides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 19xx-1997 1999–2000 2001 |
Western Province Ulster Munster |
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| National team(s) | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1998–2000 1998–2000 |
Ireland A Ireland |
? 19 |
(?) (5) |
| Sevens national teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Club / team | Comps | |
| 1995 | South Africa | ||
Dion O' Cuinneagain (born 24 May 1972, Cape Town, South Africa) is a former rugby union player who represented both South Africa and Ireland. Since retiring as a rugby player, O' Cuinneagain has worked as a doctor and as a rugby coach.
O' Cuinneagain was born and raised in Cape Town. His father, Connell, was a dentist who came from County Dublin, Ireland. The O' Cuinneagain family originally came from Enniscorthy in County Wexford. His mother was a nurse who came from Lancashire. O' Cuinneagain was educated at Rondebosch Boys' School before going onto to study medicine at Stellenbosch University. As a youth he showed potential in several sports. He also represented Western Cape at schoolboy cricket and was a notable hurdler.
O' Cuinneagain played rugby at various levels with University of Cape Town and then Western Province where his team mates included, among others, Tiaan Strauss, Corne Krige and Bobby Skinstad. However his career was initially hindered by a serious hip injury and in 1997 he left South Africa and moved to England where he joined Sale Sharks. Then in 1999 he switched to playing for Ballymena RFC and Ulster. He made five appearances for the latter in the Heineken Cup . Injuries continued to hinder O'Cuinneagain's career and in 1999 he suffered two shoulder injuries and a broken wrist. In 2000 he decided to return to South Africa to complete his medical studies. However, in 2001 he made a brief comeback when he agreed to help out an injury depleted Munster. On 13 April 2001 he played in a 24–22 win against a Rest of Ireland XV at Thomond Park before making a late appearance as a replacement against Stade Français in the Heineken Cup semi-final defeat on 22 April.
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