# Neil Doak

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Irish rugby union player & cricketer

Rugby player

Neil Doak Born Neil George Doak (1972-06-21) 21 June 1972 (age 54) Lisburn, Northern Ireland Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Notable relative Nathan Doak (son) Rugby union career Position Scrum-half Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) North of Ireland – Ballymena – Malone – Belfast Harlequins Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1995–2005 Ulster 76 Coaching career Years Team 2008–2017 Ulster (Attack Coach) 2013 Ireland (Backs Coach) 2014 Emerging Ireland (Backs Coach) 2018–2020 Worcester Warriors (Attack Coach) 2020 Georgia (Back and Attack Coach) 2024–2025 Ireland U20 Correct as of 16 March 2026 Cricket career Cricket information Batting Right-handed Bowling Off-spin Career statistics Competition First-class List A Matches 2 3 Runs scored 58 86 Batting average 19.33 43.00 100s/50s 0/0 0/1 Top score 27* 84* Balls bowled 6 90 Wickets 0 0 Bowling average – – 5 wickets in innings – – 10 wickets in match – – Best bowling – – Catches/stumpings 3/– 1/– Source: Cricket Archive, 12 March 2019

**Neil George Doak** (born 21 June 1972)[1] is a Northern Irish former [cricketer](/source/Cricket) and [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) player. He is the former head coach of the [Ireland U20](/source/Ireland_national_under-20_rugby_union_team) rugby union team. [2]

He has served as attack and backs coach with English club side [Worcester Warriors](/source/Worcester_Warriors), and [Georgia](/source/Georgia_national_rugby_union_team) during the 2020 [Autumn Nations Cup](/source/Autumn_Nations_Cup). Doak previously worked as attack and backs coach of Irish provincial side Ulster from 2008 to 2017, where he also spent his professional playing career. During his time with Ulster, he had brief stints as a coach with [Ireland](/source/Ireland_national_rugby_union_team) and [Emerging Ireland](/source/Emerging_Ireland).

## Rugby union

### Playing career

Doak played at amateur level for four Irish clubs, all based in Ulster. These were [North of Ireland FC](/source/North_of_Ireland_FC), [Ballymena RFC](/source/Ballymena_RFC), [Malone RFC](/source/Malone_RFC) and [Belfast Harlequins](/source/Belfast_Harlequins). In addition to these clubs, Doak also played for the [Ulster provincial side](/source/Ulster_Rugby).[3] He played 76 times for Ulster, before retiring in April 2005.[4]

Doak came close to representing his country at international level. He was named in the [Ireland](/source/Ireland_national_rugby_union_team) squad for the [2002 Six Nations Championship](/source/2002_Six_Nations_Championship),[5] the [2003 World Cup](/source/2003_Rugby_World_Cup_squads)[6] and was named as a substitute for a match against [Fiji](/source/Fiji_national_rugby_union_team) in 1995, but never earned a senior cap for the Ireland side. [3]

### Coaching career

Following his retirement from playing, Doak began working as part of [Ulster's](/source/Ulster_Rugby) academy system. He served as an Elite Player Development Officer and head coach of the under-19 and under-20 sides. Doak was promoted to the senior set up in 2007, taking the role of skills coach and managing the province's second-tier side, Ulster A. In 2008 he was promoted again, this time becoming the team's attack and backs coach. During his time with Ulster, Doak also took up temporary roles within the [Irish setup](/source/Irish_Rugby_Football_Union). In 2013, he served as [Ireland](/source/Ireland_national_rugby_union_team)'s backs coach during their [tour to North America](/source/2013_Ireland_rugby_union_tour_of_Canada_and_United_States). In 2014, he served as backs coach to [Emerging Ireland](/source/Emerging_Ireland) in the [2014 IRB Nations Cup](/source/2014_IRB_Nations_Cup).[7]

In the summer of 2014, Ulster sacked head coach [Mark Anscombe](/source/Mark_Anscombe) on short notice. Ireland defence coach [Les Kiss](/source/Les_Kiss) took over as director of rugby on an interim basis for the start of the 2014–15 season. In October 2014, Kiss returned to his position with the Ireland team, with and Doak took over the role of head coach. It was announced that Kiss would return to his role with Ulster on a full-time basis following the [2015 World Cup](/source/2015_Rugby_World_Cup), leaving Doak in charge of the province for the remainder of the season and the start of the 2015–16 campaign.[4] He served in this role under Kiss until the end of the 2016–17 season, when he was replaced by [Jono Gibbes](/source/Jono_Gibbes).[8]

In March 2018, it was announced that Doak had joined [English Premiership](/source/Premiership_Rugby) side [Worcester Warriors](/source/Worcester_Warriors). He was hired as attack and backs coach, taking up the role for the 2018–19 season.[7][8] He left Worcester at the end of the 2019–20 season.[9]

Doak coached [Georgia](/source/Georgia_national_rugby_union_team) during the 2020 [Autumn Nations Cup](/source/Autumn_Nations_Cup).[10]

In December 2024, he became head coach of the [Ireland U20](/source/Ireland_national_under-20_rugby_union_team), appointing [Ian Keatley](/source/Ian_Keatley) as an assistant coach.[11] Since Doak took charge of the under-20s they have finished 6th in the 2025 U20 Six Nations and 11th in the U20 World Championship. Doak was replaced as coach of the Ireland Under-20s on the 1st of October 2025, less than one year after taking charge.

In the spring of 2026 Neil took over the Head Coaching role at [Banbridge RFC](/source/Banbridge_RFC)

## Cricket

In addition to playing rugby, Doak was also an accomplished cricketer, representing [Ireland](/source/Ireland_cricket_team) internationally.

A right-handed [batsman](/source/Batsman) and [off spin](/source/Off_spin) bowler,[1] he made his debut for the Irish cricket team in June 1993, playing against [Scotland](/source/Scotland_national_cricket_team)[12] in a [first-class](/source/First-class_cricket) match.[13] He went on to play for Ireland on 32 occasions, his last match coming against [Zimbabwe](/source/Zimbabwe_national_cricket_team) in June 2000, though this was more than three years after his previous appearance in the third place play-off of the [1997 ICC Trophy](/source/1997_ICC_Trophy) against Scotland.[12]

Of Doak's matches for Ireland, two were first-class matches against Scotland,[13] and three had [List A](/source/List_A_cricket) status.[14] In all matches for Ireland, he scored 479 runs at an average of 26.61, his highest score being 84 [not out](/source/Not_out)[12] against [Surrey](/source/Surrey_County_Cricket_Club) in a [Benson & Hedges Cup](/source/Benson_%26_Hedges_Cup) match on 14 May 1996, an innings for which he won the [man of the match](/source/Man_of_the_match) award, despite finishing on the losing side.[15] He took 31 wickets, at an average of 21.84, with his best bowling figures being four wickets for nine runs against [Gibraltar](/source/Gibraltar_national_cricket_team)[12] in the 1996 [European Championship](/source/European_Cricket_Championship)[16] and against [Israel](/source/Israel_national_cricket_team) in the [1997 ICC Trophy](/source/1997_ICC_Trophy).[17]

Doak played for Ireland in three international tournaments; the [1994 ICC Trophy](/source/1994_ICC_Trophy),[18] the 1996 European Championship,[19] during which he won a man of the match award for a performance against [Denmark](/source/Denmark_national_cricket_team) where he took 4/44 and scored 51 not out,[20] and the 1997 ICC Trophy,[18] during which he won a man of the match award for the above-mentioned performance against Israel.[17]

## Family

Doak's son [Nathan](/source/Nathan_Doak) is a professional rugby union player, playing scrum half for [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) and the [Ireland national under-20 rugby union team](/source/Ireland_national_under-20_rugby_union_team).[21] Another son, [Cameron](/source/Cameron_Doak), plays prop, and joined the Ulster Rugby academy in 2023.[22]

## See also

- [List of Irish cricket and rugby union players](/source/List_of_cricket_and_rugby_union_players#Irish)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CAP_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CAP_1-1) [Cricket Archive profile](http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4331/4331.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Doak Appointed Ireland Men's U20s Head Coach"](https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/12/11/neil-doak-appointed-ireland-mens-u20s-head-coach/). Ireland Rugby. Retrieved 22 February 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BBC_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BBC_3-1) Stokes, Jim (5 April 2005). ["Doak returns to his day job"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/4407293.stm). BBC. Retrieved 24 September 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Kiss_2014_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Kiss_2014_4-1) ["Doak confirmed by IRFU as Ulster head coach on full-time basis"](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/doak-confirmed-by-irfu-as-ulster-head-coach-on-full-time-basis-1.1955263). *[Irish Times](/source/Irish_Times)*. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Doak gets Irish call-up"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/1748415.stm). BBC. 8 January 2002. Retrieved 11 October 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Article about Doak being selected for the World Cup in 2003 from the BBC](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/team_pages/ireland/3089714.stm)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Worcester_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Worcester_7-1) ["Neil Doak"](https://warriors.co.uk/teams/neil-doak/). *[Worcester Warriors](/source/Worcester_Warriors)*. Retrieved 24 September 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Warriors_BT_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Warriors_BT_8-1) ["Former Ulster coach Neil Doak to take job at Premiership side Worcester Warriors"](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/former-ulster-coach-neil-doak-to-take-job-at-premiership-side-worcester-warriors-36675492.html). *[Belfast Telegraph](/source/Belfast_Telegraph)*. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Worcester Warriors close to finalising next season's coaching team"](https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/sport/18115162.worcester-warriors-close-finalising-next-seasons-coaching-team/). *Worcester News*. 22 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["David Humphreys and Neil Doak secure Georgia coaching roles"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54494403). *BBC Sport*. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Doak Appointed Ireland Men's U20s Head Coach"](https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/12/11/neil-doak-appointed-ireland-mens-u20s-head-coach/). Ireland Rugby. Retrieved 22 February 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CESZP_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CESZP_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CESZP_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-CESZP_12-3) ["CricketEurope Stats Zone profile"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081202163904/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CSTATZ/irelandall/ire80.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CSTATZ/irelandall/ire80.htm) on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FCM_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FCM_13-1) [First-class matches played by Neil Doak at Cricket Archive](http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4331/First-Class_Matches.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [List A matches played by Neil Doak at Cricket Archive](http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4331/List_A_Matches.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Scorecard of Ireland v Surrey Benson & Hedges Cup game in May 1996 from Cricket Archive](http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/62/62157.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Scorecard of Gibraltar v Ireland match in 1996 European Championship](http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/62/62536.html)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IreVIsr_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IreVIsr_17-1) [Scorecard of Ireland v Israel from the 1997 ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive](http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/63/63706.html)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ICCT_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ICCT_18-1) [ICC Trophy matches played by Neil Doak at Cricket Archive](http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4331/ICC_Trophy_Matches.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Ireland squat at the 1996 European Championship at CricketEurope"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080906211642/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1996/TOURNAMENTS/EUROCHAMS/TEAMS/ireland.shtml). Archived from [the original](http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1996/TOURNAMENTS/EUROCHAMS/TEAMS/ireland.shtml) on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [Denmark v Ireland scorecard from 1996 European Championship](http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/62/62517.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Gerry Thornley, ["Impressive Nathan Doak set for first competitive Ulster start"](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro14/impressive-nathan-doak-set-for-first-competitive-ulster-start-1.4685121), *Belfast Telegraph*, 28 September 2021

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Ulster Rugby Academy 2023/24 squad confirmed"](https://ulster.rugby/content/ulster-rugby-academy-202324-squad-confirmed-1), Ulster Rugby, 29 June 2023

v t e Ireland squad – 2003 Rugby World Cup Forwards Best Byrne Corrigan Costello S.Easterby Foley Gleeson Horan Hayes Longwell Miller O'Callaghan O'Connell O'Kelly Quinlan Sheahan Wood (c) Backs Dempsey Doak G.Easterby Hickie A.Horgan S.Horgan Humphreys Kelly Maggs O'Driscoll O'Gara Stringer Wallace Coach: O'Sullivan

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neil Doak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Doak) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Doak?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.