Mick English RIP

The Committee and staff of the Irish Rugby Football Union extend their condolences to the family of former Ireland International Mick English who died yesterday aged 77.

Mick English, or ‘Mick the Kick’ as he was known, won 16 caps for Ireland between 1958 and 1963.

Educated at Rockwell College and a member of Bohemian RFC, he won Munster Senior Cups in 1958, 1959 and 1962.

He then moved to Dublin and like many a Munsterman joined Lansdowne FC where he won a Leinster Senior Cup in 1965. He later became Club President in 1989/90.

His Munster career saw him play against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. He was also selected in the British & Irish Lions in 1959 but injury saw his tour cut short.

He made his debut for Ireland against Wales at Lansdowne Road on March 15, 1958, taking over at out-half from Jack Kyle. He was capped against France at the Stade Colombes a few weeks later.

The following season saw Mick capped against England, Scotland and France when he also notched up his first international points with a drop goal to help Ireland win by 9-5.

His nine international points consisted of three drop goals and interestingly Ireland did not lose in the three games in which he scored – the aforementioned game against France, a 3-3 draw against Wales in 1962 and and 14-6 win over the Welsh in Cardiff in 1963.

He made his last appearance for Ireland in December 1963 against New Zealand.

Noted for his sense of humour, Mick is famous in rugby circles for his description of what happened in a game against England when he went to tackle his opposite number Phil Horrocks-Taylor: “Horrocks went one way, Taylor went the other and I was left holding the bloody hyphen!”

Mick will be sadly missed by his family and friends and by the wider rugby community.

Removal on Thursday evening from Carnegie’s Funeral Home, The Crescent, Monkstown to St. John the Baptist Church, Blackrock arriving at 5pm. Funeral on Friday after 11am mass.

May he rest in peace.