AFTER 17 YEARS, 60 tries, about 500 assisted choke tackles and a few questionable hairstyles, Gordon D’Arcy will step away from Leinster rugby at the season’s end, and from rugby altogether after the World Cup.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
The centre signed a contract extension to take him until the end of October, obviously with a view to making Joe Schmidt’s World Cup squad before retiring.
However, Leinster skills coach Richie Murphy confirmed today that if D’Arcy doesn’t make the squad, he should be available to provide cover for Leinster during the World Cup.
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“I think that is the situation if that arises,” Murphy answered when asked about D’Arcy’s availability for Leinster were he not to make the national squad.
“He is contracted until the end of October so if he is not with Ireland, he should be here.”
Of course, were he to return to play for Leinster in next season’s opening months, it would be in the strange situation of already having had an emotional farewell at the RDS.
Last Friday’s win over Treviso saw D’Arcy get a massive ovation from the crowd, while his parents warmly embraced him as he walked off the pitch.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
The Leinster assistant coach joked that last week’s game could end up being the first in a long line of ‘last games’ for D’Arcy, just like how his former centre partner Brian O’Driscoll enjoyed an extended farewell tour.
“It was the first one of his last games,” Murphy said with a laugh.
“It was a difficult one, how do you acknowledge someone after 17 years of service? If he never plays again [at the RDS], it would have been terrible not to give me what he deserved.”
Gordon D'Arcy's last home club game... might not have actually been his last home club game
AFTER 17 YEARS, 60 tries, about 500 assisted choke tackles and a few questionable hairstyles, Gordon D’Arcy will step away from Leinster rugby at the season’s end, and from rugby altogether after the World Cup.
The centre signed a contract extension to take him until the end of October, obviously with a view to making Joe Schmidt’s World Cup squad before retiring.
However, Leinster skills coach Richie Murphy confirmed today that if D’Arcy doesn’t make the squad, he should be available to provide cover for Leinster during the World Cup.
“I think that is the situation if that arises,” Murphy answered when asked about D’Arcy’s availability for Leinster were he not to make the national squad.
“He is contracted until the end of October so if he is not with Ireland, he should be here.”
Of course, were he to return to play for Leinster in next season’s opening months, it would be in the strange situation of already having had an emotional farewell at the RDS.
Last Friday’s win over Treviso saw D’Arcy get a massive ovation from the crowd, while his parents warmly embraced him as he walked off the pitch.
The Leinster assistant coach joked that last week’s game could end up being the first in a long line of ‘last games’ for D’Arcy, just like how his former centre partner Brian O’Driscoll enjoyed an extended farewell tour.
“It was the first one of his last games,” Murphy said with a laugh.
“It was a difficult one, how do you acknowledge someone after 17 years of service? If he never plays again [at the RDS], it would have been terrible not to give me what he deserved.”
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