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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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LOCAL HERO: New Ireland captain Caelan Doris was a popular figure when he came back to his home club, Ballina RFC, recently. Picture: John O'Grady
MAYO sporting history will be made on Sunday when Caelan Doris captains the Irish rugby team against Italy in the Six Nations Championship game in Dublin.
The Lacken man assumed the arm-band after Peter O'Mahony failed to make the team after picking up a knock against France in the opening round in Marseilles last week. When O'Mahony left the field during that highly-impressive opening-day win, Doris stepped in as on-field captain, but Sunday will be his first time leading the side out.
It will be a proud moment for the former Ballina RFC player, his family and the club where he first chased a rugby ball. Ballina RFC chairman, Alan Rowe was overjoyed when news came through that the club had its first senior Irish captain
"We're absolutely over the moon here. Caelan is an idol to our hundreds of boys and girls coming through our Minis and underage system and this is monumental news. I remember him here as a little boy and even then there was something special about him. He's one of the finest rugby players on the planet and we're very proud to have his first international jersey hanging in our clubhouse. Caelan is one of the finest ambassadors Ballina Rugby Club and sport in general could have and he's an exceptional young man off the field too, never forgetting where he comes from.
"He was here with us on St Stephen's Day and it was a joy having him and his lovely family in our midst. We look forward to seeing him lead the team out on Sunday and all Ballina RFC and Mayo hearts will be beating a little faster than usual I think."
Doris played Mini Rugby with Ballina and went on to win a Connacht U16 title with the club. He won a Leinster Senior Schools Cup with Blackrock College in 2014 and captained the team in 2016. He captained the Irish team at the U20 World Cup in 2018 and made his senior debut against Scotland in Dublin in February 2020 in the Six Nations Championship.
He has played a pivotal role for Ireland and Leinster in recent seasons and his elevation to the role of captain for Sunday's game is an indication of the esteem he's held in throughout the game.
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