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Nathan Doak (born 17 December 2001) is an Irish rugby union player who plays scrum-half and out-half for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup.
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| Date of birth | 17 December 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 87 kg (13.7 st; 192 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Wallace High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Neil Doak (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The son of the former Ulster scrum-half and head coach Neil Doak,[1] he was a mascot and a ball-boy at Ravenhill as a child.[2] He started playing rugby at Wallace High School, and was part of the team that shared the Ulster Schools' Cup with The Royal School, Armagh after the final was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] He won the Ulster Boys' Schools Player of the Year award in 2020.[4]
He represented Ireland at U18 and U19 level, and played for Ulster A in the 2019–20 Celtic Cup, before joining the Ulster academy for the 2020–21 season.[5] He made his Ulster debut in Round 10 of the 2020–21 Pro14 against Munster.[6]
He was selected for the Ireland national under-20 rugby union team for the 2021 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. He played in the victory against Wales, scoring three penalties, three conversions and a 50-metre try;[7] in the defeat to England, scoring a penalty and a conversion;[8] in the win over Italy, scoring two penalties and two conversions;[9] and in the defeat to France, scoring two conversions and three penalties.[10]
He signed a development contract with Ulster ahead of the 2021-22 season. He impressed in the absence of John Cooney with injury, scoring 48 points in nine appearances, and was awarded a senior contract in December.[11] He made his first Champions Cup start against Northampton Saints in January 2022, scoring a try in a 24-20 victory.[12] He finished the season with 23 appearances and 134 points,[13] and was nominated for Young Men's Player of the Year in the 2022 Ulster Rugby Awards.[14] He was selected for the Emerging Ireland squad for the Toyota Challenge in South Africa in September 2022.[15] He finished the 2022–23 season with 20 appearances and 80 points for Ulster. He unexpectedly made his 50th Ulster appearance against Glasgow Warriors in November 2023, being named on the bench at the last minute following the withdrawal of Jake Flannery, then playing most of the game at out-half after Billy Burns went off with a head injury.[16] Since the departure of former head coach Dan McFarland and the arrival of interim head coach Richie Murphy, he has been selected more regularly at out-half.[17] He was called up to the Ireland squad for the 2024 tour of South Africa after Craig Casey was injured in the first test.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Nathan Doak". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ Ciaran Donaghy, "Nathan Doak preparing for special Ulster debut 11 years on from proud night", News Letter, 2 January 2021
- ^ Patrick McCarry, "'Why not? I'm not doing anything else' - The conversation that changed Nathan Doak's rugby career", Sports Joe, 11 April 2022
- ^ "Ulster Rugby Domestic Rugby Awards: Winners revealed in virtual ceremony", Ulster Rugby, 26 June 2020
- ^ "Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy squad for 2020/21 season is named". Ulster Rugby. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Ulster 15-10 Munster: Northern province hold off visitors to extend unbeaten run". BBC Sport. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ "Stunning Doak score leads Ireland under-20s to bonus-point win over Wales", Six Nations Rugby, 25 June 2021
- ^ "England under-20s keep Grand Slam dream alive after beating Ireland", Six Nations Rugby, 1 July 2021
- ^ "Kendellen double leads Ireland fightback in thrilling win over Italy", Six Nations Rugby, 7 July 2021
- ^ John McMurtry, "SIX NATIONS: IRELAND U20 28 FRANCE U20 34", The Front Row Union, 14 July 2021
- ^ Orla Bannon, "Boost for Ulster as exciting scrum-half Nathan Doak signs first senior contract", Irish Examiner, 23 December 2021
- ^ "Young guns repaying McFarland with adventurous brand of rugby", The Front Row Union, 19 January 2022
- ^ itsrugby.co.uk Profile
- ^ "Nominees announced for 2021/22 Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards", Ulster Rugby, 22 June 2022
- ^ "Emerging Ireland Squad Named For Toyota Challenge In Bloemfontein", Irish Rugby, 14 September 2022
- ^ Jonathan Bradley, "Nathan Doak taking unfamiliar 10 role in stride, insists Ulster coach Dan Soper", Belfast Telegraph, 29 November 2023
- ^ Adam McKendry, "Ulster head coach Richie Murphy gives Nathan Doak the nod at fly-half", Belfast Telegraph, 29 March 2024
- ^ "Ireland Squad Update", Irish Rugby, 8 July 2024
