EVERY RUGBY PLAYER knows that the game carries inherent risks. It’s a sport that can be physically brutal and, these days, no professional player seems able to get through a season without injury or a career without surgery.
However, the hope for most is that they can survive and thrive in the game long enough to make a living out of it. And then, when you’re over 30 and slowing down, you can move on to the next challenge.
Here are five men who weren’t quite fortunate enough to make the landmark.
Stephen Ferris
Today, two months shy of his 29th birthday, Ulster’s powerful flanker was forced to call time after an injury-plagued 18-months.
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Ferris pictured this year with Rally legend Jimmy McRae. Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO
Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO / Darren Kidd/INPHO
Ian Dowling
The nimble Kilkenny wing had made himself a mainstay of the Munster flanks before being forced out of action with a hip injury with 98 caps to his name.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Eoin O’Malley
Perhaps the most promising would-be successor to the Leinster number 13 jersey, O’Malley suffered cruciate ligament damage in the 2012 Pro12 semi-final against Glasgow Warriors – a week out form the Heineken Cup final – and retired last year at the age of 24.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Simon Best
The low point of the 2007 World Cup was not the loss to France or hanging on for a narrow win over Georgia, it was the heart scare that forced prop Simon Best out of rugby.
PRESSEYE / INPHO
PRESSEYE / INPHO / INPHO
Barry Murphy
The rise of Hermitage Green means that Murphy is still in the limelight, but as Munster’s outside centre Murphy looked destined to do great things on the big stage until a knee injury signalled the beginning of the end.
5 Irish players forced to retire from pro rugby far, far too early
EVERY RUGBY PLAYER knows that the game carries inherent risks. It’s a sport that can be physically brutal and, these days, no professional player seems able to get through a season without injury or a career without surgery.
However, the hope for most is that they can survive and thrive in the game long enough to make a living out of it. And then, when you’re over 30 and slowing down, you can move on to the next challenge.
Here are five men who weren’t quite fortunate enough to make the landmark.
Stephen Ferris
Today, two months shy of his 29th birthday, Ulster’s powerful flanker was forced to call time after an injury-plagued 18-months.
Ian Dowling
The nimble Kilkenny wing had made himself a mainstay of the Munster flanks before being forced out of action with a hip injury with 98 caps to his name.
Eoin O’Malley
Perhaps the most promising would-be successor to the Leinster number 13 jersey, O’Malley suffered cruciate ligament damage in the 2012 Pro12 semi-final against Glasgow Warriors – a week out form the Heineken Cup final – and retired last year at the age of 24.
Simon Best
The low point of the 2007 World Cup was not the loss to France or hanging on for a narrow win over Georgia, it was the heart scare that forced prop Simon Best out of rugby.
Barry Murphy
The rise of Hermitage Green means that Murphy is still in the limelight, but as Munster’s outside centre Murphy looked destined to do great things on the big stage until a knee injury signalled the beginning of the end.
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attrition enforced Injury Knee Injury Leinster Munster retired Rugby Ulster