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Connacht's Ben Marshall forced to retire at the age of 26 due to concussion

The lock had been sidelined for the last number of months.

CONNACHT SECOND ROW Ben Marshall has retired from professional rugby on medical advice after suffering a concussion-related injury.

Ben Marshall Marshall played just five times for Connacht. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

The 26-year-old has been out of action all season and the Guinness Pro12 champions confirmed the unfortunate news this afternoon.

Marshall joined Connacht at the start of the 2015/16 campaign but made just five appearances for the club during an injury-hit year.

The former Ireland U20 international signed a new contract with the province last March but complications have arisen after he sustained a head injury towards the back-end of Connacht’s title-winning season.

“Unfortunately, my time as a player has come to an end earlier than I would have wished,” Marshall said.

“It has been a difficult time not being able to play since the injury but having had some time away from the game, I can appreciate how fortunate I’ve also been in my career.”

Marshall was a graduate of the Leinster Academy and played 20 times for the eastern province before making the move to the Sportsground in search of greater opportunities.

The former St Andrew’s College student was also capped by an Ireland XV against the Barbarians in 2015 and represented Emerging Ireland in the Tbilisi Cup later that year.

“Special thanks have to be extended to my teammates and friends, from schoolboy through to professional level,” he continued.

Sean O'Brien, Aly Muldowney and Ben Marshall Marshall moved to Galway last year. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“We have shared many highlights that I will carry with me for years to come, and it is the quiet camaraderie of the dressing room that I will miss the most.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Connacht head physio Garrett Coughlan and the medical team who have given me wonderful care and support over the past eleven months.

“I am looking forward to continuing in my financial studies and the new career path that is ahead of me, but I will always be appreciative of the lessons that Willie (Ruane) and Pat (Lam) taught me during my time at Connacht Rugby.”

Pat Lam described Marshall as an excellent team man.

“Ben was unfortunate through injury during his time at Connacht Rugby but we always saw his professional attitude shine through on and off the pitch,” the Connacht head coach said.

“He is an excellent team man who has achieved a lot in the game from a very young age and I have no doubt that he will go on to achieve great things in his business and life pursuits going forward.

“He will have a support system and friends for life from his time in rugby and we wish him well for the future.”


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13 Comments
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    Mute Ed Byrne
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    Jan 31st 2017, 4:01 PM

    Best of luck in the future Ben.

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    Mute Johnnie Sexton
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    Jan 31st 2017, 4:19 PM

    Unfortunately he won’t be the last I reckon. Great player, best of luck ben.

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    Mute Tom Reilly
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    Jan 31st 2017, 4:21 PM

    This is becoming an all too common occurrence. Years ago it was practically unheard of in Irish rugby. It has to beg the question if there are former rugby players suffering from undiagnosed concussion issues.

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    Mute hallelujah
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    Jan 31st 2017, 4:22 PM

    @Tom Reilly: unfortunately a lot of Irish media would rather attack other sports than examine Rugby and concussion. Sorry for Mr Marshall.

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    Mute Billy Malone
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    Jan 31st 2017, 4:35 PM

    3 Connacht players retired from concussion in the past year, crazy

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Jan 31st 2017, 4:46 PM

    What other sports? As far as I can see head injuries in rugby and how they are dealt with is a regular topic in many media outlets. I don’t see any other sports being ‘attacked’.

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    Mute hallelujah
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    Jan 31st 2017, 5:09 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: have you ever seen Media, like Journal.ie coverage of GAA games? All you ever see is a foul or a “ruck”. You rarely see any of the goals or points.

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    Mute Rudiger McMonihan
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    Jan 31st 2017, 6:03 PM

    The reason there are more concussions now days is because theyre being diagnosed. I remember playing as a kid and seeing guys get knocked out and play on. We had no idea how dangerous it was. Im not old either. The focus on concussion is a very new thing, so you cant compare different generations. I dont think its a size thing either. Plenty of backs get knocked out because they have an extra 20m to build up speed and hit each other with far more momentum than a prop would picking off the back of a ruck

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Jan 31st 2017, 7:44 PM

    Most of the knocks to the head I’ve had came from either the knee or hip when I was making a tackle.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    Jan 31st 2017, 9:58 PM

    Hitting my own players knee and head hitting hard ground on a Spanish pitch after being knocked back ; there’s two examples of how I got concussed on a rugby pitch , did I know ? No .did I play on ? Yes , did any else notice ? Not really . Awareness is much higher today as is good medical advice .

    Rest of my concussions were from a ( flawless) Fosbury flop in my own back garden and being assaulted on the street .

    I applaud the new rules to protect against concussion but some will always happen regardless of the measures taken .

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Jan 31st 2017, 4:46 PM

    This concussion thing needs to be brought to a head. Obviously there is too much hard hitting, rough play, violence or something going on here. Obviously players are being put at risk of serious injury here. Since professionalism came into it there is far too much walloping, and idiots watching it thinks that it is brilliant, not so brilliant when lads may end up like Muhammad Ali. Parents need to stand up here and look after their sons before someone is killed at this walloping.

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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
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    Jan 31st 2017, 5:00 PM

    @Eugene Comaskey:
    My 10 cents on it is the height of the coalition, players are going higher to stop the off loading… The new rules in January should bring that down lower as a mistake in tackling higher could yield a Yellow or Red…

    The lower we force the tackle the more off loading there is? More Offloading the better the rugby..

    I would love to know what techniques or actions are causing concussions and we could address them

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    Mute blindside
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    Jan 31st 2017, 8:08 PM

    More people get concussed on a Saturday night out, yet people still go out at the weekends, do you think we should stop that too ?

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