Denis Cussen was perhaps Ireland's greatest ever athlete. Born in Newcastle West, County Limerick in 1901, Cussen was educated at Blackrock College where he captained the school's rugby team to three Leinster Schools Senior Cups. He went on to study medicine at Trinity and with their rugby team he won two Leinster Senior Cups and the Bateman Cup. He was capped by Leinster and Ireland on fifteen occasions, winning the five nations championship on two occasions. In 1923, Cussen was selected to play for a combined Ireland and Scotland team in the historic Rugby Centenary game. Having moved to work in London, Cussen played rugby with Blackheath with whom he played in the first ever rugby 7s game at Twickenham. He also played with St Mary's Hospital and the Middlesex County team.