Rugby

Rob Kearney confirms Barbarians outing will be his last

Kearney’s confirmed retirement ends one of the most successful careers in Irish rugby

Rob Kearney last appeared for Ireland at the 2019 World Cup. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Tue Nov 23 2021 - 17:00

Rob Kearney has confirmed that he will retire after he appears for the Barbarians next Saturday.

In a tweet published on Tuesday afternoon, the former Leinster player confirmed that it was a 'dream' to line out for the Baa-Baas:

“It’s always been a dream to play for the @Barbarian_FC and what a historic team to play your last game of rugby with, grateful for the opportunity!”

Kearney will be part of a Barbarians outfit that takes on Samoa on Twickenham. 12 countries will be represented after a squad was named on Monday.

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Leinster’s Jack Dunne is the other Irish participant on the men’s side. He and Cardiff’s Olly Robinson are the only two in the group who have yet to debut for their respective countries.

Other big names involved are Australia’s Nic White and James O’Connor, while World Cup-winning Springboks Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx and Duane Vermeulen are also set to appear.

Jenny Murphy, Sene Naoupu, Ciara Griffin, Anna Caplice and Lindsay Peet are Ireland’s representatives in the women’s squad to take on a Springbok Women’s XV.

Kearney has not appeared in a professional match since his last outing for Australian side the Western Force. He was named on the bench in June for the sides’ final Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash against the Blues.

He made the move to Australia in 2020 after wrapping up a 15-year stint with his home province Leinster that started in 2005 in a Celtic League match against the Ospreys.

Kearney went on to make 219 appearances for the province, winning four Champions Cups, six domestic titles and one Challenge Cup. He was named the European player of the year in 2012.

The Louth man fell agonisingly short of a century of caps with Ireland, making his 95th and final appearance in the 2019 World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand. He was involved in four Six Nations-winning campaigns, including the Grand Slam efforts of both 2009 and 2018.

Kearney also went on two Lions tours, announcing himself on the world stage with a series of impressive performances against South Africa in 2009.

Before his final swansong in rugby was announced, Kearney had recently returned to GAA action with his local club Cooley Kickhams.

LeinsterRob Kearney