Jacques O'Neill

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

Jacques O'Neill
Personal information
Full nameJacques O'Neill
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
2019–22 Castleford Tigers 29 3 0 0 12
2018(loan) → Leigh Centurions 1 0 0 0 0
2019(DR) → Halifax 1 0 0 0 0
2023 Castleford Tigers 0 0 0 0 0
2023(loan) → Sheffield Eagles 0 0 0 0 0
Total 31 3 0 0 12
Source: [2][3][4]
As of 15 Aug 2023

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

In 2022, he was a contestant on the eighth series of Love Island.

Early life

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

He played junior rugby league for Askam ARLFC before being signed to the Castleford Tigers academy. After earning his academy contract, he was driven from Cumbria to Castleford twice a week for training by his mother.[5][1] He currently lives in Leeds.

Club career

Castleford Tigers

In August 2015, at the age of 16, O'Neill signed his first professional contract with the Castleford Tigers after progressing through the club's academy.[6] The contract spanned two-and-a-half years and would see him step up into the Tigers' under-19s.[6]

On 1 March 2019, O'Neill made his Super League début for Castleford against Hull Kingston Rovers.[7] In August, he signed a new one-year deal with the Tigers.[8] He scored his first try on 10 August against the London Broncos,[9] 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."[10] 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.[11][12]

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."[13] A persistent hamstring injury severely disrupted his season, limiting him to just 6 appearances and forcing him to miss the 2021 Challenge Cup Final.[14][15] He underwent a hamstring re-attachment operation after his campaign was cut short, and began a steady rehabilitation process.[15][16]

On 10 June 2022, Castleford announced that O'Neill had been released from his contract "to allow him to pursue another opportunity" of appearing on the ITV reality show Love Island.[17][18] The Tigers had the first option to sign O'Neill back if he decided to return to rugby league in the next year.[17] On 13 July, immediately following O'Neill's exit from the show, he visited a training session at the club, although regarding a return head coach Lee Radford said, "It is something we've not spoken about. That is probably a conversation to have further down the line I think."[19][20]

Leigh Centurions (loan)

In 2018, O'Neill joined the Leigh Centurions on a short-term loan to play in the Championship Shield Final.[21] 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.[22]

Halifax (dual registration)

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

Return to Castleford Tigers

On 20 April 2023, it was announced that O'Neill had rejoined the Castleford Tigers on an initial contract until the end of the 2023 season.[23][24][25] Given his 18-month long absence from the sport and his previous hamstring issue, head physiotherapist Matty Crowther "worked closely with him to try and get him more mobile" and "durable" again.[26] A sore Achilles meant this took longer than anticipated,[27] so a loan move was utilised to build up match fitness.[28]

In October 2023, following the conclusion of his half-year deal, O'Neill was not included in Castleford's listed squad for the 2024 season.[29]

Sheffield Eagles (loan)

In August 2023, O'Neill joined the Sheffield Eagles in the Championship on an initial two-week loan deal, continuing on a rolling basis.[28][30] However, early into this move, he suffered a further setback with his Achilles injury, and was unable to make an appearance for the Eagles.[31]

International career

O'Neill represented England Under-16s in their international series against France Under-16s in April 2015.[32] He played as a hooker in both the 16–6 victory at Belle Vue on 3 April, scoring a try and receiving a Man of the Match award,[33][34] and the 20–8 defeat at Post Office Road on 7 April.[35]

In April 2021, O'Neill was selected in the England Knights performance squad.[36][37]

Personal life

He was diagnosed with ADHD at age 9.[38]

In 2022, O'Neill became a contestant on the eighth series of Love Island.[39] Ahead of his entrance, it was revealed he was the ex-boyfriend of fellow contestant Gemma Owen.[40][41][42] Gemma's father is ex-England footballer Michael Owen. He decided to leave the villa on Day 37 for mental health purposes and to "get back to himself".[43] Castleford Tigers offered O'Neill welfare support and spoke of the club's focus to support and welcome him at Wheldon Road.[20][44]

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
2023 Castleford Tigers 0 0 0 0 0
2023 Sheffield Eagles 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 31 3 0 0 12

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. Shaw, Matthew (10 January 2021). "Cas star Jacques O'Neill aiming high in 2021". TotalRL. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  6. "O'Neill inks pro contract at Castleford". Love Rugby League. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  7. "Super League: Castleford Tigers 32-16 Hull KR". BBC Sport. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  8. "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Tigers hooker signs new one-year extension". BBC Sport. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. "Super League: Castleford Tigers 20-6 London Broncos". BBC Sport. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  10. "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Hooker signs one-year contract extension". BBC Sport. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  11. "McShane & O'Neill win in League Express readers' poll". Castleford Tigers. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  12. Shaw, Matthew (3 January 2021). "McShane wins League Express Player of the Year poll". TotalRL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. "New deal for O'Neill". Castleford Tigers. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. 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.
  15. "O'Neill on journey back to full fitness". Castleford Tigers. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  16. "Jacques talks rehab progression". Castleford Tigers. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  17. "Club Statement: Jacques O'Neill". Castleford Tigers. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  18. "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Tigers release player to go on Love Island". BBC Sport. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  19. Darbyshire, Drew (13 July 2022). "Jacques O'Neill visits Castleford team-mates after leaving Love Island". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  20. "Club Statement: Jacques O'Neill". Castleford Tigers. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  21. "Featherstone 42 Leigh 10: Newman shines as Rovers lift Championship Shield". The Yorkshire Post. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  22. "Wigan Warriors loan crisis-hit Leigh FOUR players for final". Wigan Today. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  23. "Jacques O'Neill: Love Island star returns to Castleford Tigers until end of season". BBC Sport. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  24. "O'Neill returns to the Tigers". Castleford Tigers. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  25. "Love Island star Jacques O'Neill makes Super League return with Castleford Tigers". Sky Sports. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  26. Walker, Callum (13 June 2023). "Castleford Tigers reveal playmaker suffers injury setback as latest on Jacques O'Neill explained". Total RL. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  27. Walker, Callum (29 June 2023). "Will Jacques O'Neill play for Castleford Tigers in Super League 2023? Andy Last has his say". Total RL. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  28. Darbyshire, Drew (15 August 2023). "Castleford Tigers hooker Jacques O'Neill makes Championship loan move". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  29. "Full 2024 first team squad". Castleford Tigers. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  30. "O'Neill joins Sheffield on loan". Castleford Tigers. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  31. Walker, Callum (16 August 2023). "Castleford Tigers' Jacques O'Neill suffers injury heartbreak as Sheffield Eagles loan move looms". TotalRL. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  32. "England Youth and Academy squads named for 2015". The RFL. 11 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  33. Castleford Tigers [@CTRLFC] (3 April 2015). "England U16s 16 - France U16s 6 -Congrats to Castleford Tiger Jacques O'Neill with a try scoring debut and MOM #COYF" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  34. Daly, Phil (3 April 2015). "England Youth enjoy Good Friday win". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  35. Daly, Phil (8 April 2015). "France Under-16s too strong for England Youth". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  36. Thomson, Doug (27 April 2021). "England Knights squad named". TotalRL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  37. "Three Tigers in England Knights squad!". Castleford Tigers. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  38. "Love Island Jacques' has ADHD and struggles with emotions, says star's family". Grimsbylive. 9 July 2022.
  39. "Rugby league star Jacques O'Neill confirmed as new Love Island contestant". Yorkshire Live. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  40. Johnson, Emily (10 June 2022). "Love Island's Gemma Owen's rugby-star ex Jacques O'Neill is joining the show". HullLive. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  41. Shaw, Matthew (11 June 2022). "Who is Jacques O'Neill and his relationship with Gemma Owen as he enters Love Island". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  42. Johns, Victoria (11 June 2022). "Gemma Owen's ex Jacques O'Neill - All we know about the Love Island bombshell". The Mirror. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  43. Percival, Ash (13 July 2022). "Love Island's Jacques O'Neill Tearfully Explains His Exit From Show". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  44. "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Tigers offer welfare support after 23-year-old's Love Island exit". Sky Sports. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
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