1952 Ireland rugby union tour of South America

The 1952 Ireland rugby union tour of South America, was a series of rugby matches played in Chile and Argentina. This tour by the Ireland national rugby union team coincided with the death of Eva Peron, the wife of Juan Peron, the President of Argentina. As a result, it was almost cancelled. Eva Peron died on 26 July, six days after the Irish squad had departed Dublin. However, after playing their first game in Santiago, Chile, the team travelled onto Buenos Aires and completed the tour as planned.

They finished with a record of played 9, won 6, drew 2 and 1 defeat. The tour also featured the first full rugby internationals between Ireland and Argentina.

Touring party

 * Manager: G.P.S. Hogan
 * Secretary: R.W. Jeffares, Jr
 * Referee: O.B. Glasgow
 * Captain: Des O'Brien

Backs

 * M. Birthistle (Old Belvedere)
 * Richard Chambers (Instonians)
 * Robin Gregg (Queen's University)
 * William Hewitt (Instonians)
 * Michael Hillary (University College Dublin)
 * J.T. Horgan (University College Cork)
 * Mick Lane (University College Cork)
 * Jack Notley (Wanderers)
 * John O'Meara (University College Cork)

Forwards

 * Fuzzy Anderson (Queen's University)
 * D. Crowley (Cork Constitution)
 * Michael Dargan (Old Belvedere)
 * Ronnie Kavanagh (University College Dublin)
 * Patrick Kavanagh (University College Dublin)
 * Des O'Brien (Cardiff)
 * Archie O'Leary (Cork Constitution)
 * W.J. O'Neill (University College Dublin)
 * Paddy Lawlor (Clontarf)
 * Jim McCarthy (Dolphin)
 * John Smith (Collegians)
 * P.P. Traynor (Clontarf)