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Jacques O'Neill

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Jacques O'Neill (born 8 May 1999) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker or loose forward for the York Knights in the RFL Championship.

Jacques O'Neill
Personal information
Full nameJacques O'Neill
Born (1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 (age 25)
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
2025– York Knights 0 0 0 0 0
Total 31 3 0 0 12
Source: [2][3]
As of 14 November 2024

He has previously played for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He has spent time on loan and dual registration at the Leigh Centurions, Halifax, and the Sheffield Eagles in the Championship.

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

Early life

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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.[4][1] He currently lives in Leeds.

Club career

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Castleford Tigers

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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.[5] The contract spanned two-and-a-half years and would see him step up into the Tigers' under-19s.[5]

Leigh Centurions (loan)

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In 2018, O'Neill joined the Leigh Centurions on a short-term loan to play in the Championship Shield Final.[6] 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.[7]

Halifax (dual registration)

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

Breakthrough

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On 1 March 2019, O'Neill made his Super League début for Castleford against Hull Kingston Rovers.[8] In August, he signed a new one-year deal with the Tigers.[9] He scored his first try on 10 August against the London Broncos,[10] 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."[11] 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.[12][13]

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."[14] A persistent hamstring injury severely disrupted his season, limiting him to just 6 appearances and forcing him to miss the 2021 Challenge Cup final.[15][16] He underwent a hamstring re-attachment operation after his campaign was cut short, and began a steady rehabilitation process.[16][17]

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.[18][19] The Tigers had the first option to sign O'Neill back if he decided to return to rugby league in the next year.[18] 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."[20][21]

Return to Castleford Tigers

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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.[22][23][24] Given his 18-month long absence from the sport and his previous hamstring issue, head physiotherapist Matt Crowther "worked closely with him to try and get him more mobile" and "durable" again.[25] A sore Achilles meant this took longer than anticipated,[26] so a loan move was utilised to build up match fitness.[27]

Sheffield Eagles (loan)

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In August 2023, O'Neill joined the Sheffield Eagles in the Championship on an initial two-week loan deal, continuing on a rolling basis.[27][28] However, early into this move, he suffered a further setback with his Achilles injury, and was unable to make an appearance for the Eagles.[29]

Departure

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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.[30] New head coach Craig Lingard later clarified, "Jacques O'Neill is not at the club, his contract hasn't been renewed and he has naturally left the club as people do at the end of their contracts."[31]

One year later, reflecting on his previous attempted return to rugby league, O'Neill said, "I was in a really bad place mentally and physically the worst shape of my life. I came back and expected to be the old Jacques who was playing Super League and it was just not the right timing."[32]

York Knights

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On 14 November 2024, it was announced that O'Neill had signed for York Knights in the RFL Championship on a one-year deal.[33][34]

International career

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O'Neill represented England Under-16s in their international series against France Under-16s in April 2015.[35] 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,[36][37] and the 20–8 defeat at Post Office Road on 7 April.[38]

In April 2021, O'Neill was selected in the England Knights performance squad.[39][40]

Personal life

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He was diagnosed with ADHD at age 9.[41]

In 2022, O'Neill became a contestant on the eighth series of Love Island.[42] Ahead of his entrance, it was revealed he was the ex-boyfriend of fellow contestant Gemma Owen.[43][44][45] 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".[46] Castleford Tigers offered O'Neill welfare support and spoke of the club's focus to support and welcome him at Wheldon Road.[21][47]

Statistics

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Appearances and points in all competitions by year
Club Season Tier App T G DG Pts
  Castleford Tigers 2019 Super League 11 1 0 0 4
2020 Super League 12 2 0 0 8
2021 Super League 6 0 0 0 0
2022 Super League 0 0 0 0 0
2023 Super League 0 0 0 0 0
Total 29 3 0 0 12
→   Leigh Centurions (loan) 2018 Championship 1 0 0 0 0
→   Halifax (DR) 2019 Championship 1 0 0 0 0
→   Sheffield Eagles (loan) 2023 Championship 0 0 0 0 0
  York Knights 2025 Championship 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 31 3 0 0 12
As of November 2024

References

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  1. ^ a b "Jacques O'Neill Biography". Castleford Tigers. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Player Summary: Jacques O'Neill". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Jacques O'Neill - Playing Career". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  4. ^ Shaw, Matthew (10 January 2021). "Cas star Jacques O'Neill aiming high in 2021". TotalRL. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b "O'Neill inks pro contract at Castleford". Love Rugby League. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Featherstone 42 Leigh 10: Newman shines as Rovers lift Championship Shield". The Yorkshire Post. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Wigan Warriors loan crisis-hit Leigh FOUR players for final". Wigan Today. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Super League: Castleford Tigers 32-16 Hull KR". BBC Sport. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Tigers hooker signs new one-year extension". BBC Sport. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Super League: Castleford Tigers 20-6 London Broncos". BBC Sport. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Hooker signs one-year contract extension". BBC Sport. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  12. ^ "McShane & O'Neill win in League Express readers' poll". Castleford Tigers. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. ^ Shaw, Matthew (3 January 2021). "McShane wins League Express Player of the Year poll". TotalRL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. ^ "New deal for O'Neill". Castleford Tigers. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ a b "O'Neill on journey back to full fitness". Castleford Tigers. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Jacques talks rehab progression". Castleford Tigers. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Club Statement: Jacques O'Neill". Castleford Tigers. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Jacques O'Neill: Castleford Tigers release player to go on Love Island". BBC Sport. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  20. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (13 July 2022). "Jacques O'Neill visits Castleford team-mates after leaving Love Island". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Club Statement: Jacques O'Neill". Castleford Tigers. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Jacques O'Neill: Love Island star returns to Castleford Tigers until end of season". BBC Sport. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  23. ^ "O'Neill returns to the Tigers". Castleford Tigers. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Love Island star Jacques O'Neill makes Super League return with Castleford Tigers". Sky Sports. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ a b Darbyshire, Drew (15 August 2023). "Castleford Tigers hooker Jacques O'Neill makes Championship loan move". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  28. ^ "O'Neill joins Sheffield on loan". Castleford Tigers. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  29. ^ Walker, Callum (16 August 2023). "Castleford Tigers' Jacques O'Neill suffers injury heartbreak as Sheffield Eagles loan move looms". TotalRL. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Full 2024 first team squad". Castleford Tigers. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  31. ^ Walker, Callum (30 October 2023). "When Castleford Tigers players will return for pre-season as Craig Lingard gives update on Albert Vete, Jacob Miller and Jacques O'Neill future". TotalRL. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  32. ^ Shaw, Matthew (10 October 2024). "Jacques O'Neill launches rugby league return with determined stance set out". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  33. ^ Olawumi, Ben (14 November 2024). "Jacques O'Neill seals rugby league return with Championship switch revealed". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  34. ^ Kennedy, Emma (14 November 2024). "Ex-Love Island star Jacques O'Neill signs for York Knights". The York Press. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  35. ^ "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.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ Daly, Phil (3 April 2015). "England Youth enjoy Good Friday win". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  38. ^ Daly, Phil (8 April 2015). "France Under-16s too strong for England Youth". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  39. ^ Thomson, Doug (27 April 2021). "England Knights squad named". TotalRL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  40. ^ "Three Tigers in England Knights squad!". Castleford Tigers. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  41. ^ "Love Island Jacques' has ADHD and struggles with emotions, says star's family". Grimsbylive. 9 July 2022.
  42. ^ "Rugby league star Jacques O'Neill confirmed as new Love Island contestant". Yorkshire Live. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  43. ^ 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.
  44. ^ 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.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ Percival, Ash (13 July 2022). "Love Island's Jacques O'Neill Tearfully Explains His Exit From Show". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  47. ^ "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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