| Full name | George Ernest Cromey | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 May 1913 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Bushmills, Co. Antrim | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 27 September 2006 (aged 93) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Ballymoney, Co. Antrim | ||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Methodist College Belfast | ||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Queen's University Belfast | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Presbyterian minister | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||
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George Ernest Cromey (8 May 1913 — 27 September 2006) was a rugby union international from Northern Ireland.
Born in Bushmills, County Antrim, Cromey was one of nine siblings. He attended Methodist College Belfast and was a 1935 graduate of Queen's University Belfast, with an honours degree in classics.[1]
Cromey, a diminutive Queen's University fly-half, was capped nine times by Ireland in the late 1930s.[2] He was also a member of the 1938 British Lions tour of South Africa, where he came into the team for the final Test in Cape Town, which was won 21–16.[3] During the tour, Cromey was asked to be a roommate of Paddy Mayne, in an attempt to control the temperamental lock (later a founding member of the Special Air Service).[4]
A RAF chaplain in World War II, Cromey served as a minister at Ballyweaney Presbyterian Church for 39 years.[1][5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "This Is Your Life - George Cromey". Ballymena Observer. 27 April 1978.
- ^ "He Plays Both Codes". Evening Standard. 12 February 1937.
- ^ "Thrilling Finish". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 12 September 1938.
- ^ "Your Club Your Lions: Queen's University RFC". www.lionsrugby.com.
- ^ Donaghy, Ciaran (7 August 2021). "When five Ulster players helped the Lions stun South Africa". News Letter.