Alan Doherty

{{Short description|Irish rugby union player (born 1945)}}

{{otherpeople}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Alan Doherty

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Alan Edward Doherty

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|07|31|df=y}}

| birth_place = Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Republic Ireland

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| position = Centre

| repyears1 = 1974

| repteam1 = {{nrut|Ireland}}

| repcaps1 = 1

| reppoints1 = 0

}}

Alan Edward Doherty (born 31 July 1945) is an Irish former rugby union international.

Doherty, a native of Enniscorthy, was versed in rugby while at Kilkenny College, while also playing field hockey at schoolboy international level. He was a centre and made his senior debut for Enniscorthy RFC aged 17.{{cite news |title=Rugby great back for unfinished business |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/gorey-news/rugby-great-back-for-unfinished-business/27264650.html |work=Irish Independent |date=26 January 2006 |language=en}}

Early in his career, Doherty was based in England, where he competed for Bedford and London Irish, before returning to Ireland in 1970.{{cite news |title=Enniscorthy player may be Capped for Ireland |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002322/19691018/291/0019 |work=New Ross Standard |date=18 October 1969}} He played in Ireland for Old Wesley, a side captained by his brother David.{{cite news |last1=Comerford |first1=Patrick |title=Enniscorthy lad for Old Wesley |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002322/19720922/368/0018 |work=New Ross Standard |date=22 September 1972}}

Doherty appeared for Ireland in a centenary celebration match against a President's XV at Lansdowne Road in 1974, for which caps were awarded. He is believed to be the first person from Enniscorthy to be capped for Ireland.{{cite news |title=First Cap For Alan Doherty |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002322/19740913/223/0013 |work=New Ross Standard |date=13 September 1974}}