- Date of Birth19 / 04 / 1873
- Died25 / 03 / 1923
- Lions Tours1896
- International CapsIreland / Lions
- Lions Origin SchoolsCatholic University School Dublin, Clongowes Wood College
- Lions Origin ClubsSt. Vincent's Hospital, Richmond, Wanderers, Johannesburg Wanderers, Leinster
Injury to Johnny Hammond gave Thomas Crean the honour of captaining The British & Irish Lions, the most notable of which were the first two Test matches against South Africa in 1896.
The Irishman was to play in all four Tests, playing 21 times on the Tour – including scoring a hat-trick against Eastern Province Kings – despite being a forward.
Around his Lions tenure, Crean also featured nine times for Ireland, scoring two tries, then going to South Africa as one of nine men from his country in the touring squad.
Crean’s post-rugby career was not to be limited either, fighting in both the Second Boer War and World War I, going on to earn the Victoria Cross – one of just four rugby union internationals to earn that honour.