Kevin O’Brien went to school in Deanshanger, where he played football; and one of his teachers took him to Wolverton Rugby Club with the thought that he might like the game of rugby. He was made welcome and was turning out for games within a week or two! His position was prop forward.
Kevin eventually became MK RUFC 1st XV captain in their first proper year after moving to the new ground at Greenleys. The opening ceremony was arranged by Jeff Butterfield who lived in Wicken. Kevin was a builder who worked on Jeff Butterfield’s house in Wicken and he was invited to play in many of Jeff Butterfield’s invitation teams around the country and also abroad. Kevin remembers playing in the centenary celebration game at Rugby. He also remembers matches in Holland against Dutch Commando sides which were hard work on the pitch and lots of fun off the pitch.
On another occasion Jeff Butterfield and Kevin were in Paris and they went out to a restaurant for dinner. For some reason the restaurant manager took a dislike to Kevin and when Jeff and Kevin ordered oysters Kevin found that his portion “tasted like canal water”. Unfortunately, as a result Kevin was quite ill on his return to England and had to be put on a drip. He was supposed to go into hospital but was fortunately able to persuade a local nurse to supervise his recovery at home.
Jeff Butterfield introduced mini rugby at MK RUFC; Kevin was surprised when – expecting maybe 20 boys to turn up – over 100 attended. A mini rugby section was formed, with which Kevin O’Brien’s brother Arnold was heavily involved.
Kevin then introduced modern training methods for the 1st XV based on his experience with Jeff Butterfield’s methods at mini rugby. Kevin also attended coaching courses at Loughborough where he found out about modern thinking on aerobics and fitness techniques. This was just before the Olympics so many British athletes and gymnasts were at Loughborough at this time preparing for the Olympics and Kevin could see the benefit they gained from these new techniques.
So Kevin and another player David O’Brien (no relation) who had been at Loughborough introduced these new techniques to MK RUFC. Kevin as a prop worked with the forwards and David as a winger worked with the backs. Training plans were tailored for individual players and positions. First team players were required to attend training to qualify for selection, to improve themselves and set a good example for youngsters. “Slackers” were asked to stay away.
All this work bore fruit on the field. Under his captaincy MK RUFC had a very successful season, with contributions from both forwards and backs. Local rivals such as Olney, Bletchley, Buckingham and Banbury were all beaten. One match ended in a 121-0 score line in favour of MK RUFC.
Kevin described a good team spirit in the 1st XV. Dinners were well supported. Kevin worked to get floodlights installed and was thinking of introducing video recording of training sessions and matches for later analysis and player improvement.
However, this new regime was not popular with everyone at the club, and after a couple of years Kevin was not re-elected as captain. He then joined Towcester RUFC because he knew their captain. He spent 4 years at Towcester, only getting involved again at MKRUFC after finishing playing at Towcester. In his first year he captained Towcester 2nd XV and then moved up to the first team. In Kevin’s time at Towcester they won the Lewis Shield (before MKRUFC won it!).
Kevin eventually became MK RUFC 1st XV captain in their first proper year after moving to the new ground at Greenleys. The opening ceremony was arranged by Jeff Butterfield who lived in Wicken. Kevin was a builder who worked on Jeff Butterfield’s house in Wicken and he was invited to play in many of Jeff Butterfield’s invitation teams around the country and also abroad. Kevin remembers playing in the centenary celebration game at Rugby. He also remembers matches in Holland against Dutch Commando sides which were hard work on the pitch and lots of fun off the pitch.
On another occasion Jeff Butterfield and Kevin were in Paris and they went out to a restaurant for dinner. For some reason the restaurant manager took a dislike to Kevin and when Jeff and Kevin ordered oysters Kevin found that his portion “tasted like canal water”. Unfortunately, as a result Kevin was quite ill on his return to England and had to be put on a drip. He was supposed to go into hospital but was fortunately able to persuade a local nurse to supervise his recovery at home.
Jeff Butterfield introduced mini rugby at MK RUFC; Kevin was surprised when – expecting maybe 20 boys to turn up – over 100 attended. A mini rugby section was formed, with which Kevin O’Brien’s brother Arnold was heavily involved.
Kevin then introduced modern training methods for the 1st XV based on his experience with Jeff Butterfield’s methods at mini rugby. Kevin also attended coaching courses at Loughborough where he found out about modern thinking on aerobics and fitness techniques. This was just before the Olympics so many British athletes and gymnasts were at Loughborough at this time preparing for the Olympics and Kevin could see the benefit they gained from these new techniques.
So Kevin and another player David O’Brien (no relation) who had been at Loughborough introduced these new techniques to MK RUFC. Kevin as a prop worked with the forwards and David as a winger worked with the backs. Training plans were tailored for individual players and positions. First team players were required to attend training to qualify for selection, to improve themselves and set a good example for youngsters. “Slackers” were asked to stay away.
All this work bore fruit on the field. Under his captaincy MK RUFC had a very successful season, with contributions from both forwards and backs. Local rivals such as Olney, Bletchley, Buckingham and Banbury were all beaten. One match ended in a 121-0 score line in favour of MK RUFC.
Kevin described a good team spirit in the 1st XV. Dinners were well supported. Kevin worked to get floodlights installed and was thinking of introducing video recording of training sessions and matches for later analysis and player improvement.
However, this new regime was not popular with everyone at the club, and after a couple of years Kevin was not re-elected as captain. He then joined Towcester RUFC because he knew their captain. He spent 4 years at Towcester, only getting involved again at MKRUFC after finishing playing at Towcester. In his first year he captained Towcester 2nd XV and then moved up to the first team. In Kevin’s time at Towcester they won the Lewis Shield (before MKRUFC won it!).
