J. J. McCoy (rugby union)

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J.J. McCoy
Birth nameJames Joseph McCoy [1]
Date of birth (1958-06-28) 28 June 1958 (age 65)
Place of birthEnniskillen, Northern Ireland[2]
Occupation(s)Royal Ulster Constabulary officer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop Forward
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
197x–1985
1985–199x		 Dungannon
Bangor		 ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1978–199x Ulster ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1979
1979–1982
1984–1989		 Ireland U23
Ireland B
Ireland		 1
2
16		 0
0
0

James Joseph McCoy (born 28 June 1958), also referred to as J.J. McCoy or Jimmy McCoy, is a former Ireland rugby union international. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the 1985 Five Nations Championship and the Triple Crown. He also represented Ireland at the 1987 Rugby World Cup. While playing for Ireland, McCoy was also a serving Royal Ulster Constabulary officer.

Playing career[edit]

Clubs and province[edit]

McCoy played rugby union at senior club level for Dungannon[3][4][5] and Bangor.[6][7] He also played for Ulster in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, making his debut against Munster at Ravenhill in 1978 aged 19.[8] On 14 November 1984 McCoy was a member of an Ulster team that defeated a touring Australia 15–13 at Ravenhill.[9]

Ireland[edit]

Between 1984 and 1989 McCoy made 16 full senior appearances for Ireland.[1] He had previously represented Ireland at Under-23 [3] and B levels.[4] He made his senior debut on 4 February 1984 against Wales in an 18–9 defeat.[1] He was a member of the Ireland team that won 1985 Five Nations Championship and the Triple Crown.[8] He also represented Ireland at the 1987 Rugby World Cup.[10] McCoy made his final appearance for Ireland on 18 November 1989 against New Zealand.[1]

Appearances
1984 Five Nations Championship[1] 1
1984 Australia[11] 1
1985 Five Nations Championship 4
1985 Japan[5] (2) (Note 1)
1985 Fiji (1) (Note 1)
1986 Five Nations Championship 1
1987 Rugby World Cup[10] 1
1988 Millennium Trophy 1
1988 France[6] (?) (Note 1)
1988 Western Samoa 1
1988 Italy 1
1989 Five Nations Championship 4
1989 North America[7] (2) (Note 1)
1989 New Zealand[1][12][13] 1
Total 16
Notes
  • ^1 The IRFU does not recognise matches played on these tours as full internationals. As a result, they are not included in final total of appearances.

Source:[14]

RUC officer[edit]

McCoy joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary on leaving school and was a serving officer during the Troubles. He initially served in Dungannon as a community officer. However he was subsequently transferred to Bangor. In a 2012 Irish Examiner interview with his former Ireland teammate, Donal Lenihan, McCoy says he was moved after the RUC received a warning of a threat to his life. McCoy denied receiving a bullet in the post from the IRA. When travelling to Dublin to play for Ireland, McCoy was escorted by Garda Síochána Special Branch officers.[2][8]

Honours[edit]

Ireland
Ulster

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "JJ McCoy". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Bonds no bomb can kill". www.independent.ie. 30 January 2005. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Ireland V Holland". www.irishrugby.ie. 13 October 1979. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Ireland B V England B". www.irishrugby.ie. 4 December 1982. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Ireland V Japan". www.irishrugby.ie. 2 June 1985. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Ireland V France". www.irishrugby.ie. 22 May 1988. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Ireland V United States". www.irishrugby.ie. 9 September 1989. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  8. ^ a b c "'I knew something was wrong when 20 plain clothes gardaí turned up at Irish training'". www.irishexaminer.com. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Down Memory Lane: Ulster heroes of 84 are reunited one more time". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Ireland (13) 32 – 9 (3) Tonga (FT)". espn.co.uk. 3 June 1987. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  11. ^ "Great Wallaby Tries: 84 Grand Slam v Ireland". www.greenandgoldrugby.com. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Should the Irish players be singing Amhrán na bhFiann at the World Cup in New Zealand?". www.irishexaminer.com. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  13. ^ "In 1989 Ireland faced the Haka and paid the price". www.irishtimes.com. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Ireland International Teams – Results, Scorers, Dates and Venues – 1874 to June 1999". www.irishrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
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