| 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]
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]