Costello to retire at end of the season

Victor Costello has announced that he is to retire from rugby at the end of the season. The Leinster and Ireland number eight was arguably the most effective ball-carrying forward of his generation, winning 39 caps for his country and scoring four tries in the process.

Costello, 35 in October, will see out the season with Leinster and will hope that his swansong can include a little Heineken European Cup glory as the Irish province take on Leicester in a quarter-final at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, April 2nd.

"It has always been the ambition of myself and Leinster to win the Heineken Cup, so going all the way in the competition would be the best possible way of bowing out. But I have had so many great times in rugby that it would not cast a shadow over my career if we didn't win it."

Costello was an outstanding schoolboy rugby player at Blackrock College, winning one Junior Cup and two Senior Cup winners' medals. He also excelled in the shot putt, winning various national underage titles before going on to represent Ireland at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

He made his debut for the national rugby team against the USA in 1996, the first of his 39 caps. He played briefly for Connacht and London Irish but spent most of his career at St Mary's College and Leinster, the province for whom he has made 121 appearances, second in the all-time list to Shane Byrne.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: "Victor Costello has enjoyed an incredible sporting career of which rugby has played a huge part. He was one of the most talented athletes in world rugby and played a big part in the recent success of the national team, none more so than in the Rugby World Cup in 2003. I wish him every success in his future career plans."

Leinster director of rugby Declan Kidney added: "Victor has been a great servant to Leinster rugby and a cornerstone for the team over the last decade. Everyone knows when it is their time to retire and it will be very difficult to replace him. I wish him well for the future."

On his decision to retire Costello admitted: "I have been thinking about when to retire for the last six months. I've been involved in competitive sport for the last 20 years and I decided I wanted to leave at the top without any bad memories. There are of lots of things I want to do and places I want to see without having a rugby bag over my shoulder."

There is little doubt that when his season, and therefore career ends, he will be missed on and off the pitch.

Ireland caps: 39 (debut Jan 1996 )

Ireland points: 20 (4 tries)

Ireland "A" caps: 9

Ireland Under-21 caps: 2

Ireland schools caps: 4

Official Leinster caps: 121

Points scored: 70 (14 tries)

Celtic League/Cup caps: 34 (3 tries)

European Cup caps: 56 (5 tries)

Senior Leinster debut: Friendly, 46-11 win v Natal XV at Anglesea Road, Oct 25th 1995

European Cup debut: 21-24 win v Milan in Italy, Nov 1st 1995

Leinster Under-20/21 caps: 1