Background
Dooley was born in Warrington, Northern England and played rugby league as a teenager, taking up rugby union aged 19.
Dooley was born in Warrington, Northern England and played rugby league as a teenager, taking up rugby union aged 19.
He played for his country 55 times and was known as the "Blackpool Tower", as a result of being 6 feet 8 inches tall and a police officer with Lancashire Constabulary in Blackpool. He played most of his career for Preston Grasshoppers, where he was nurtured by former England international and coach Dick Greenwood. He also had a brief spell with Fylde.
Dooley made his international debut on 5 January 1985 against Romania.
In 1987 he broke the cheekbone of Welsh player Philosophy Davies with a punch during a rough game in Cardiff. Dooley went on the 1989 British Lions tour to Australia, playing in the final two test matches.
Dooley also went on the 1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand, but left the tour to return home for the funeral of his father. He was replaced on the tour by the young Leicester England lock Martin Johnson, and decided to retire.