Billy McCombe
| Full name | William McMachan McCombe | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 6 February 1949 | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 12 March 2025 (aged 76) | ||||||||||||||||
| University | Trinity College Dublin | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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William McMachan McCombe (6 February 1949 – 12 March 2025) was an Irish international rugby union player.[1]
Biography
[edit]McCombe played his club rugby for Bangor and Dublin University.[2]
A fly-half known for his goal-kicking abilities, McCombe was aged 18 when called upon in 1968 to replace an injured Mike Gibson for a Five Nations match against France at Colombes, making him the youngest ever Ireland player in that position.[2] He kicked all of Ireland's points in a 6–16 loss, then didn't get another opportunity until 1975, when he displaced Mick Quinn in the Five Nations squad.[3] Finishing as the tournament's top points-scorer (26), McCombe registered the winning try in their opening match against England and contributed 13 points in a win over France.[4]
McCombe died on 12 March 2025, at the age of 76.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "IRFU Remembers Billy McCombe". Irish Rugby. 18 March 2025.
- ^ a b Hill, Cameron (7 December 2018). "Billy the Kid: Trinity's teenage rugby prodigy and Ireland international". Trinity News.
- ^ "Quinn (kicked out by Billy) wants that cap back". Ireland's Saturday Night. 18 January 1975.
- ^ "Irish Snap Up England Gift". Sunday Post. 19 January 1975.
External links
[edit]- Billy McCombe at ESPNscrum