Doyle To Step Down After Women’s Rugby World Cup

Ireland Women’s head coach Philip Doyle has announced that the forthcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup will be his last campaign with the squad.

‘Goose’, as Philip Doyle is nicknamed, made the announcement yesterday as he named a 26-woman squad for the tournament in France next month.

Philip has a long association with the Women’s game in Ireland, coaching the Leinster Women’s team as far back as 1998.

He was appointed head coach of the Ireland side in 2003 and served until 2006 taking in the FIRA Women’s Championship and a World Cup.

He took over again in 2010 and guided the squad to increasing success in the Women’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

The highlight of his career to date was guiding the Women’s team to a historic Grand Slam in 2013 but he hopes to sign off on a high in his final campaign with the girls in green.

Speaking about his decision to step down, Doyle said: “It was a very tough decision to make. I have worked with this group of women for a long time and it is hard to step away from that.

“We have had hard times and also some great success but this feels like the natural time to make way for new blood.

“We have worked hard to build for this World Cup and there is plenty still to do between now and when I finish up. I’m really looking forward to this final challenge.”