- Date of Birth02 / 10 / 1957
- Lions Tours1986, 1989, 1993
- International CapsEngland / Lions
- Lions Origin ClubsBarbarians, Fylde, Preston Grasshoppers
Wade Dooley – nicknamed the Blackpool Tower – played more than 50 times for England and toured with both the 1989 and 1993 British & Irish Lions.
Dooley, who was a police officer in Lancashire, played the bulk of his club career at Preston Grasshoppers and also enjoyed a brief spell with Fylde.
He won back-to-back Five Nations Grand Slam titles with England in 1991 and 1992 and also featured for Will Carling’s England in a World Cup final at Twickenham against Australia.
Dooley played in the second and third Test matches on the 1989 Lions Tour – packing down alongside his long-term England lock colleague Paul Ackford.
He also featured on the 1993 Tour to New Zealand but his trip was cut short following his decision to return back to the UK following the death of his father – he was replaced by Martin Johnson.
In 1986 Dooley was also included in the Lions team that faced a Rest of the World XV in the IRB Centenary celebrations.
Following his brief stint with the Lions in New Zealand in 1993 – Dooley decided to call time on his illustrious career and retire.