George Cromey

George Cromey

Full name	George Ernest Cromey
Date of birth	(1913-05-08)8 May 1913
Place of birth	Bushmills, Co. Antrim
Date of death	27 September 2006(2006-09-27) (aged 93)
Place of death	Ballymoney, Co. Antrim
School	Methodist College Belfast
University	Queen's University Belfast
Occupation(s)	Presbyterian minister
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1937–39 Ireland 9 (6) 1938 British Lions 1 (0)

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

• List of Ireland national rugby union players

References

1. "This Is Your Life - George Cromey". Ballymena Observer. 27 April 1978.
2. "He Plays Both Codes". Evening Standard. 12 February 1937.
3. "Thrilling Finish". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 12 September 1938.
4. "Your Club Your Lions: Queen's University RFC". www.lionsrugby.com.
5. Donaghy, Ciaran (7 August 2021). "When five Ulster players helped the Lions stun South Africa". News Letter.

External links

• George Cromey at ESPNscrum