'A brilliant opportunity for me': JP Doyle is back in rugby
Ex-RFU referee JP Doyle has been named as Scottish rugby’s high-performance referee coach in a newly created role put in place by performance director Jim Mallinder as part of the recent departmental restructure. The popular Dubliner was controversially made redundant by the RFU in August 2020 due to budgetary cuts and after spending the 2021 season working in the American MLR, he had since taken up a school teaching post in Scotland.
This relocation resulted in the SRU taking an interest in the former Test level referee and a new position has now been set up to get Doyle back in the game. An SRU statement read: “JP Doyle began his career in 2001 and officiated regularly in the English Premiership. In May 2014, he refereed the Premiership Final before being appointed as an official at the 2015 World Cup and taking charge of matches in the Six Nations.
“On leaving the RFU in 2020, Doyle worked as a refereeing coach in the United States in Major League Rugby and as a part-time teacher at Craigclowan Preparatory School in Perthshire. In the newly created role within Scottish rugby, Doyle will oversee Scotland’s four full-time referees – Mike Adamson, Ben Blain, Hollie Davidson and Sam Grove-White.
“As well as working closely with the wider refereeing team and upskilling referee coaches throughout Scotland, Doyle will also develop Scottish rugby’s referee talent ID programme to ensure Scotland’s refereeing representation continues at the highest level.”
Doyle said: “Throughout my career, I have always had opportunities to be involved in coaching and being from an educational teaching background for the last 15 years, this role mirrored perfectly where I wanted my career to go.
"It sucks for me. I'm sure it sucks for them as well"
– The 41-year-old has spoken 5?? months after his RFU exit
#GallagherPrem https://t.co/ETFsh02SCB— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 14, 2021
“The refereeing department within Scottish rugby is already successful so this is a brilliant opportunity for me to develop that and put further structures in place to what is already working well. My main focus from the refereeing side will be to help develop the technical side but also the human element. To achieve long term success it is critical that our referees maintain positive relations across the game in order to achieve success.
“Like every team in sport, you have to build and develop so another key focus of my role will be around talent ID. I’ll be out looking at who is coming through the refereeing pathways but also engaging with players and coaches within clubs as that will be where we’ll find a lot of our talent going forward.”
Performance director Mallinder added: “Having a man of JP Doyle’s experience coaching our high-performance refereeing team will be of great benefit to match officials across Scotland. All four of our referees have been rewarded recently with appointments in high-profile matches, particularly Mike Adamson who has been involved in this year’s Six Nations.
“JP’s experience will be invaluable in helping their development but also ensuring that there is a strong pipeline of referees coming through the ranks. The technical knowledge he will provide will be invaluable in driving forward Scottish refereeing across the board.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Always proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to commentsNot sure why Papali’i thinks Scott Robertson needs his help to select the next All Black Captain. In my view, Papali’i would be well advised to have a good hard look at his own game, and to reflect on how fortunate he is to even wear the black jersey. Rather than shouting at his team mates at every set piece, standing in the mid-field pointing and holding his arms out and flopping to the ground at the back of every second or third ruck, may I suggest he would be far better employed actually doing something on the field. Seriously, watch him for 10 minutes during a game - not much happens. When was the last time he was first to a breakdown, or actually made a turnover? If Robertson is half the Coach I think he is, Papali’i will not be anywhere near the AB’s this season.
11 Go to commentsHiding coming up for Saders.
1 Go to commentsDagg really does go down some rabbit holes doesnt he? In the name I guess.
6 Go to commentsHey Brett I’m one who is looking forward to seeing JS back on the rugby field. I was under the impression that a large portion of his contract was via a third party so RA isn’t having to foot the bill My big concern is around the Tahs and what is happening there, why are so many players bailing. Is it the program, the coaches or the culture. Joe Schmidt recently said he had been at the Tahs all week and DC is a good coach. Something doesn’t gel , 10 front row forwards in a season that’s not bad luck
13 Go to commentsIncorrect title. He hasn’t said Furlong is one of the best scrummagers. He said he is one of the best props.
1 Go to comments“_It seems like a crazy thing that he was counting them_“ Are you stupid, mate? Anyone with more than half a brain understands that he meant “a lot” or something similar. Do you really think he was counting? “*Goode*: Told you, Jim!“ No, you banana. You said, explicitly, that the Irish players didn’t say what EE said they did. Even though you weren’t there. Even though you didn’t hear a word they said. M0r0n.
107 Go to commentsI am sure that Scott Robertson did do the courtesy of telling Sam Cane that he was not in his All Black plans and NZR would support him if he wished to sign a lucrative pension playing out his career in the cream puff rugby that is Japan’s Top League. I fail to see this as a negative as Israel Dagg is trying to spin it. Razor allowed Cane to leave with dignity rather than being unceremoniously dumped as was Buck Shelford.
6 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsAT THE END OF THE DAY THE TEAM WITH 4 WORLD CUPS WILL ALWAYS GET TO TELL THE OTHER NATION TO SUCK MY BALLS. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC AND IRREFUTABLE FACT.
107 Go to commentsWish him and his family the best in his retirement from International rugby and into the future.
1 Go to commentsSelf proclaimed expert/pundit Andy Goode and his very personal views on referees…Why recalling them in such an article as if he were an undisputed authority on the subject ? Only because fellow writer ?
1 Go to commentsLate growth spurts are a common problem over here. I’m well over 30, and I just started having a growth spurt too. Could be a world class prop soon.
1 Go to commentsas much as the challenge cup is a bit of a nothing competition, winning it would still mean something. last year it was won by toulon, who are now something like 4th in the top 14? The year before it was won by Lyon a season before they finished 3rd in the league. The year before that the final was contested by Montpellier and Leicester - 12 months before they both became domestic champions. That should give Gloucester fans some hope.
1 Go to commentsgreat article - although I can’t help wonder whether the more relevant debate over coming years will be between Ford and Fin Smith!
12 Go to commentsMaking Scott Barrett captain might be a masterstroke….will calm him down & stop brain fades and also take pressure off Ardie, so he can just play his natural monster game. Lets see how that all pans out🧐
8 Go to commentsI’m surprised Scotland are planning to rest key players this summer - I don’t think any other tier 1 nation will be doing the same?
3 Go to commentsGreat analysis Brett and what a shame that RA haven't spent more on the tight five instead. BTW I see the latest 8-9 Combo has dropped, looking forward to that. It's incredible the amount of damage that Hamish and Eddie's egos did in such a short space of time. From memory Eddie drove the initial drive to poach league stars way back in the 00s, with community rugby paying the price in reduced funding. Australia went from 15% of its income being spent on community rugby in 2002 to 2.4% in 2015, sheer madness and look where they are now. Hamish reminds me of Scrappy Doo. Always mouthing off, spoiling for a fight with bigger dogs who'd eat him alive. Sadly RA didn't have a Scooby Doo to bail him out.
13 Go to comments*_“I love watching bone-shuddering tackles, brutal clear-outs, monster ball carries, and crushingly intense scrummaging. I love it. These things make my heart rate spike. These aren’t the only things I love about rugby, but I feel no need to pretend I don’t love them, or to apologise for loving them just in case someone thinks I shouldn’t.”_* beautifully put Flats🔥
3 Go to comments