Barton McCallan:  Ireland   2 Caps

(Hooker)

Barton McCallan was an excellent all-round sportsman at School and performed at a high level in several sports. He was wicket-keeper on the 1st XI cricket team, a member of the senior water polo team which played its home matches at the Falls Baths and an important member of a highly successful life-saving team, one of the best in Ulster at both school and club level. 

However, Barton’s sporting prowess was most evident in rugby. He was a member of the 1st XV for three years and team captain in the 1953-54 and 1954-55 seasons when he was selected for the Ulster Schools' XV. On leaving School in 1955, Barton went to Queen’s University and in October 1956, while only in his second year of university rugby, made his debut for Ulster. 

After leaving Queen’s, Barton worked in England for a year before returning to Northern Ireland and joining the Ballymena club where he was a key member of a 1st XV pack that included Willie John McBride and Sid Millar. Barton continued to play for Ulster before making his debut for Ireland in February 1960 against England at Twickenham. He competed against the legendary British Lion, Ronnie Dawson, for the position of hooker on the Irish team and obtained a second cap against Scotland at Lansdowne Road.