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Philip 'Goose' Doyle Dies Aged 61

The Blackrock coach whose teams delivered Ireland's 2013 Six Nations Grand Slam, secured the country's first win over New Zealand, plus helped build women's pathways at club and provincial level.

Overview

  • Blackrock College RFC confirmed Doyle's death on Friday, June 26, 2026, and described him as a formative figure in the development of the women's game.
  • Doyle led Ireland in two spells as head coach and guided the team to the 2013 Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam and a run to the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.
  • At the 2014 World Cup his Ireland side beat defending champions New Zealand 17-14, the first-ever win by any Irish international team over New Zealand.
  • He spent decades coaching at Blackrock, worked with Leinster and Ulster women, and had a spell as Scotland women's head coach in 2019 before stepping down in 2020 to shield during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Players, club officials and national figures paid tribute to his mentorship, noting his role in creating pathways for female players and signaling a period of public mourning and club remembrance events to follow.