Tributes flood in for Irish rugby great

The world of Irish and international rugby was today mourning the tragic death of one of its most colourful characters, Mick Doyle in a road accident in Co Tyrone.

Mr Doyle was killed after his car collided with a lorry on the road between Omagh and Dungannon.

As the sport came to terms with his death, tributes poured in from former team-mates and avid rugby fans.

Former international winger Trevor Ringland, a member of the Triple Crown winning side Mick Doyle coached in 1985, remembered him as a “man of great character”.

He recalled: “I will always remember him turning to us before we took to the field before the first match against Scotland in the Triple Crown year saying: ‘Boys, I want you to run the ball and if it doesn’t work, I want you to still run it’.

“That was the kind of coach he was. Mick was a motivator. He freed players up. He was inspirational.

“He motivated a group of young players to go out and do their best and we produced some of the best rugby an Irish team has ever produced.

“He was a great character and a great friend. Irish rugby will a lot quieter and duller without Mick Doyle and I know the Triple Crown side always looked forward to meeting him again at our reunions.

“Our thoughts go at this terrible time to his wife Mandy and his family.”