Jump to content

Jim Wheeler (rugby union)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jim Wheeler
Full nameJames Reid Wheeler
Date of birth(1898-12-27)27 December 1898
Place of birthBelfast, Ireland
Date of death22 March 1973(1973-03-22) (aged 74)
Place of deathBelfast, Northern Ireland
SchoolMethodist College Belfast
UniversityQueen's University Belfast
Occupation(s)Ophthalmologist
Rugby union career
Position(s) Outside-half
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1922–24 Ireland 5 (0)

James Reid Wheeler (27 December 1898 — 22 March 1973) was an Irish international rugby union player.

The son of a surgeon, Wheeler was born and raised in Belfast, attending Methodist College Belfast. He enlisted with the Royal Artillery in 1917 and was mentioned in despatches during his service.[1]

Wheeler played as an outside-half for Queen's University RFC while a medical student and was capped five times for Ireland, from 1922 to 1924, then became a referee and officiated three Calcutta Cup fixtures.[2]

A specialist in ophthalmology, Wheeler was made a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1929 and lectured at Queen's University. He remained involved in rugby, serving as president of the IRFU in 1959–60.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mr. James Reid Wheeler". Belfast News-Letter. 23 March 1973.
  2. ^ "J. R. Wheeler (Queen's University, Belfast.)". Sport (Dublin). 11 February 1922.
  3. ^ "Obituary". British Journal of Ophthalmology. 57. 1973.
[edit]