FORMER IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Craig Gilroy is set to leave Ulster Rugby at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old wing confirmed the news on Tuesday afternoon and said that he now hopes to move abroad in pursuit of the next chapter in his playing career.
Gilroy has made over 200 senior appearances and is the second-highest try scorer in the province’s history behind only Andrew Trimble.
He won 10 caps for Ireland, the highlight arguably coming in the 2017 Six Nations when he scored a hat-trick off the bench against Italy in Rome.
“All good things must come to an end, and so this will be my last season with [Ulster],” he wrote on Instagram.
“I have so much to be thankful for and will treasure the many amazing memories created at this club.
“As a young kid it was my dream to be a professional rugby player and to represent my home province. That dream became a reality not once but over 200 times.
“I have so many emotions looking back over the last 13 years, my whole adult life has been at Ulster and it’s hard to put it into words. I feel an immense sense of pride, I feel sad that it’s coming to an end, but so incredibly happy that it happened.
“The journey is hopefully not over just yet as I hope to finish this current season strong and thereafter look to play my rugby abroad and experience another club and culture.”
He added: “I got to travel the world, play with and against many of my heroes and live out my dream at the club I call home[...] for that I will be forever grateful.”
Kenny Out
@dublindamo: no let’s see how kenny reacts to this, in his time at rover’s and dundalk he always had a excuse granted at dundalk they were great but it’s the one thing I dislike about him,
@Happy entertainment: it’s just arrived- wind tunnel and unfair peno
Hope they bounce back and win next match didn’t see match but sounds like Ireland had chances so hopefully only a blip along the way
@Dylan lyons: I watched it, we played well enough, we will beat them at home
Ireland never really got going unfortunately.
Iceland are very experienced at U21 level and have had a settled group of players for the past 2 years compared to ourselves.
A point would have been a great result but a loss not the end of the world, still lots to play for and players to come back into the frame.
@Sean O Reily: this Iceland team got hammered 5-0 by Sweden at the weekend. Let’s not hype them up to make this very disappointing result easier to take.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: Who were beaten 3-1 at home by Ireland. What’s your point?
@Gerard O’Brien: I think that’s exactly his point
Missing some key players there like Connolly and Troy in all fairness.
Interesting group this.
Losing to Iceland at soccer…what’s next…Galway losing to New York in the all ireland…
@Desmond Cassidy: Ah Des, did you forget to take your meds again?
Eidur Gudjohnson…………..or who?, I’ll get me coat.
@Mark o’ Leary: a good gag ruined by the “I’ll get me coat”
I’m not convinced about the wisdom of Kenny succeeding McCarthy, but his u21 record easily beats that of all his predecessors, so I think we should cut him some slack…
You forgot to put Zack Eblouzedi in the line up