Rugby:Shane Horgan has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect following a long standing knee injury. It comes just days after Irish hooker Jerry Flannery announced he was also retiring from the game due to injury.
The Leinster, Ireland and British and Irish Lion had not played rugby since the Grand Final at Thomond Park at the end of last season and has had a series of operations on his troublesome knee.
Horgan struggled to train properly with Leinster for the last two years and has been studying law at Trinity College, Dublin. His retirement comes as no surprise.
The wing and centre was educated in St. Mary's Diocesan School in Drogheda and represented Meath at Minor football before joining Lansdowne FC after leaving school.
Now 33-years-old, his first Leinster cap was against Ulster in August 1998 and he went on to win a brace of Celtic League titles (2001/02 and 2007/08) and Heineken Cup medals (2008/09 and 2010/11) over a career that lasted 13 years.
He made 87 Heineken Cup appearances, scoring 27 tries and was the first Leinster player to reach the double century cap mark.
Horgan won the first of his 65 international caps (scoring 21 tries) against Scotland in February 2000 and he was selected for both the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups where he would in total make 8 appearances (scoring 2 tries). In all he was a part of three Triple Crown winning sides.
"I have been extremely fortunate to have played regularly for my province and with Ireland since my debut with Leinster in 1998 and while I am disappointed that injury has forced me to retire now, I know I have been very lucky to have had such a long and largely injury-free career,” he said.
"When you first start playing sport that is the ultimate ambition but few people are lucky enough to realise it. I am just so grateful that I was given that opportunity. I am equally fortunate to have played at a time when Leinster and Ireland experienced such great success and alongside a group of players with unprecedented talent and ambition.
"To perform at the top of any professional sport players need good coaches and Ireland has been well served during my time with the National squad.
"At Leinster, to have played under Mike Ruddock, Matt Williams, Michael Cheika and, as it turned out for the last season of my career, Joe Schmidt, represents the kind of good fortune that only "lucky" players get.”
Although Schmidt was unable to coach Horgan when he was at his peak as a fit and healthy player, he added that his approach on and off the pitch made him one of Leinster’s leaders.
"As one of the longest serving players in the professional age, Shane will no doubt go down as one of the greats of Leinster and Irish rugby,” said Schmidt. “He was a strong leader within the group whose contribution off the field mirrored his many feats on it.”
"The last year has been a frustrating one for Shane with knee surgery and long periods of rehabilitation. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, he has been unable to regain full fitness. It is a testament to Shane that his professionalism and influence have continued to impact positively on the group during this season.
Name:Shane Horgan
DOB:18th July 1978
Birthplace:Bellewstown, Co. Meath
Height:1.93 m (6' 4")
Weight:104 kg (16 st 5 lb)
Position:Centre / Wing
Club:Boyne RFC
School:St. Mary's, Drogheda
Leinster Caps- Career: 207 (71 tries, 1 drop goal)
Leinster 'A' Caps:2
Ireland Caps:65 (21 tries)
British & Irish Lions Tourist:New Zealand (2005)
British & Irish Lions Caps:3 (1 try)
Ireland 'A' Caps:7
Ireland Under-21 Caps:7 (1997/98 Triple Crown winner)
Ireland Youths Caps:7
Leinster Youths Caps:6
