Two Leinster stars to hang up their boots

[Intercept King JDV]

Leinster Rugby have confirmed the immediate retirements due to injury of two great servants for Leinster and Irish rugby; hooker John Fogarty (concussion) and prop Ronan McCormack (neck).

Leinster Chief Executive Mick Dawson commented: "It is regrettable that both players are retiring due to injury. Both John and Ronan are immensely popular and talented individuals who each played a significant role in Leinster's recent on-field success.

"John joined Leinster in 2008 and has been a key figure for our province since that time, with his consistent form culminating in his first Ireland call-up on this year's summer tour to New Zealand. A Heineken Cup winner, John represented Munster, Connacht and Leinster playing 165 matches over a career which spanned a decade.

"Capped on nine occasions for Ireland 'A', Ronan was a key member of Leinster's Heineken Cup and Magners League winning sides and was a consistent contributor during the 118 matches he amassed playing for Leinster, Connacht and Ulster. Ronan too can look back on his career with enormous pride and satisfaction.

"I would like to thank both players for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and service to the game of rugby in Ireland. Everybody in Leinster Rugby wishes both John and Ronan and their families well in their future."

Name: John Fogarty
DOB: 18th October 1977
Birthplace: Cork (raised Tipperary)
Height: 1.78 m (5' 10")
Weight:102 kg (16 st 0 lb)
Position: Hooker
Club: De la Salle Palmerston
School: Rockwell College
Leinster Caps: 44 (2 tries)
Leinster 'A' Caps: 3 (v Saracens, Bristol, Munster)
British & Irish Cup Caps:1 (v Plymouth Albion)
Ireland Cap: 1 (v New Zealand)
Ireland 'A' Caps: 12 (3 as captain)
Connacht Caps: 110 (83 Magners League, 27 Challenge Cup)
Munster Caps: 11

Name: Ronan McCormack
DOB: 27th April 1977
Birthplaceublin
Height:1.78 m (5' 10")
Weight:115 kg (18 st 0 lb)
Position: Prop
Club: UCD RFC
School: St. Mary's College, Rathmines
Leinster Caps: 52 (3 tries)
Leinster 'A' Caps:12 (v Oxford, Ulster x2, Ireland Under-20, Connacht x2, Crawshays, Munster x3, Enisei STM, Edinburgh)
British & Irish Cup Caps: 5 (v Plymouth Albion, Cornish Pirates, Exeter Chiefs, Newport, Gael Force)
Ireland 'A' Caps:9
Ireland Universities Caps:12
Ireland Schools Caps:4
Leinster Under 19/20 Caps:7
Leinster Schools Caps:3
Connacht Caps: 28
Ulster Caps: 38 (32 CL, 6 HC)

Source

Big blow for Leinster loosing both these two quality players!

 

[coonor]

I feel for both players who were becoming very solid players for Leinster and could have been inline to win a bunch of Ireland caps. Leinsters front row problems seem never ending.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

There was an article in yesterday's Sunday Independent in which Fogarty talks about his reasons for retiring and the affects repeated concussions have had on his quality of life. It's a good read and hopefully somebody in the iRB takes note.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...ifferent-person-when-this-is-bad-2410819.html

Best of luck to both players in the future. It's always a shame when injury puts an end to a player's career but their long term health is more important than a couple of trophies.

 

[lucky number 7]

There was an article in yesterday's Sunday Independent in which Fogarty talks about his reasons for retiring and the affects repeated concussions have had on his quality of life. It's a good read and hopefully somebody in the iRB takes note.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...ifferent-person-when-this-is-bad-2410819.html

Best of luck to both players in the future. It's always a shame when injury puts an end to a player's career but their long term health is more important than a couple of trophies.

I myself have been knocked out onfield 4 times in the last 6 months or that over the last 2 games I have worn a scrumcap and have not been put out yet ...so fingers crossed no more...but in the long run how bad could more get me?