Leinster forwards John Fogarty and Ronan McCormack are forced to retire
Leinster forwards John Fogarty and Ronan McCormack announced their retirement from rugby due to injury.
Fogarty only made one appearance for Ireland in the summer tour of New Zealand. The 33-year-old was forced to retire only months after making his debut due to suffering from concussion.
The hooker retires after 10 years and 165 appearances with Leinster, Connaught and Munster.
McCormack also confirmed that he was retiring from playing after he failed to recover from a neck injury. The prop played for Ulster and Connaught before he moved to Leinster and made 53 appearances for the province.
In a club statement the Leinster chief executive, Mick Dawson said, “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.”
Fogarty played a key role in Leinster's successful 2009 season when they won the Heineken Cup.
“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,” added Dawson.
McCormack never made his senior debut for Ireland, but he did make a number of appearances for Ireland A and he was used as a useful fringe player for much of his time at Leinster.
The Leinster chief executive praised McCormack’s contribution to the club and said, “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.”
Leinster will now look to strengthen in the front-row, but the province has not ruled out the possibility of bringing through some youth team players.
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