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One of rugby's all-time heroes finally called it a day this afternoon

The legend that is Nathan Hines played his last ever game today.

FOR THE LAST few years it looked like Brad Thorn and Nathan Hines were having a competition about who could age more gracefully. The two teak-tough second rows were both known for their longevity as well as their skills but the New Zealander pipped the man from Wagga Wagga by a single year in terms of retirement age.

Nathan Hines is tackled by Beb Foden Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

The 39-year-old Hines stepped away from rugby this afternoon after Sale’s loss to Exeter in the Aviva Premiership and he leaves behind a great legacy.

Irish fans will best remember him from his two-year stint with Leinster where he formed a strong second row partnership with Leo Cullen.  While Leo was more of a traditional lock, Hines’ handling was sublime and he offloaded in contact with an ease usually reserved for back rows or centres. He also scored contributed Leinster’s only points in the 2011 Heineken Cup final that weren’t scored by Johnny Sexton.

hines

Hines then enjoyed three stellar seasons with Clermont before his swansong with Sale this year. Hines was also one of rugby’s biggest chancers when it came to skirting the laws… just ask these three Ulster forwards.

ddtblog1 / YouTube

He probably isn’t as much of a cult hero as Brad Thorn is… but he is pretty damn close.

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16 Comments
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    Mute sams theman
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    Apr 18th 2019, 10:46 AM

    quite like the old crown paints jersey

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    Mute Ings on Fire
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    Apr 18th 2019, 1:56 PM

    @sams theman: the adidas Carlsberg sponsored jersey should be modernized and made as are home kit that kit scared away teams it was raw

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    Mute Kian
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    Apr 18th 2019, 11:31 AM

    That keeper kit is fantastic

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    Mute Bar
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    Apr 18th 2019, 10:44 AM

    Meet the new jersey, same as the old jersey!

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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Apr 18th 2019, 11:03 AM

    It’s not bad. I don’t like the way the sponsor logo is white and the crest and NB logo is yellow/gold. Looks strange. It clashes a bit. All white for me id prefer. Anywho. Looks to be last year with new balance. Massive money nike deal looks to be coming. Which is good. Having the same jersey as all nike sponsored teams….. not so good.

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    Mute Jack Ryan
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    Apr 18th 2019, 12:02 PM

    @Seaniecp: Bring back Adidas and the three stripes!

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    Mute Colm Connolly
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    Apr 18th 2019, 12:14 PM

    @Seaniecp: the sponsor logo is far too high

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    Apr 18th 2019, 1:51 PM

    @Jack Ryan: new balance jerseys have been top notch

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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Apr 18th 2019, 1:58 PM

    @Colm Connolly: ya I guess it is really

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    Mute Brendan Moriarty
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    Apr 18th 2019, 10:55 AM

    Paisley-era shirts were all v-neck. This isn’t. #Fail

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    Mute sams theman
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    Apr 18th 2019, 11:00 AM

    @Brendan Moriarty: in fairness they do say it’s inspired by the jersey not copied

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Apr 18th 2019, 1:20 PM

    @Brendan Moriarty: He would of been 100 this year, read into it .

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    Mute Seán Ó'Sionúir
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    Apr 18th 2019, 12:17 PM

    Can’t wait to see what monstrosities NB have planned for this terms away shirts

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    Mute Joe O'riordan
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    Apr 18th 2019, 1:38 PM

    No level of mawkish sentimentality is high enough for this crowd…

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    Mute sams theman
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    Apr 18th 2019, 1:45 PM

    @Joe O’riordan: https://the42.ie/4591563

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    Mute Willy Motley
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    Apr 18th 2019, 1:45 PM

    @Joe O’riordan: delicious salty tears

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    Mute Carnac
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    Apr 18th 2019, 2:14 PM

    @Joe O’riordan: it’s called tradition.

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    Mute Marty Morrisey
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    Apr 18th 2019, 5:00 PM

    @Joe O’riordan: Spurs new stadium, beautiful, Hazard to Madrid beautiful, Chelsea cash nipple run dry, bea…..

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    Mute Karl Cranny
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    Apr 18th 2019, 5:48 PM

    It looks OK to me, very like the one from last year (which I loved), but with the pinstripes now white. That goalie jersey should have been the away kit IMO.

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