James Charles Kearney (4 April, 1920 – 1 October, 1998) was a New Zealand international rugby union player.

[1] Kearney was born in Naseby, New Zealand and educated at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru where he played rugby for the school.

In 1943 he was playing for the Canterbury Yoemanry Cavalry club and in that year represented Ashburton County.

He played for the South Island Team in 1947 and 1948 and was a New Zealand trialist in both those years.

In the 22 matches (4 tests) he played as an All Black, Kearney scored 30 points for New Zealand (6 tries and 4 dropped goals) and 9 test points (1 try and 2 dropped goals).