Gordon D’Arcy has announced that he will retire after the World Cup in October.
D’Arcy made his debut in 1998 and has racked up 253 appearances for Leinster and 81 Test caps with Ireland.
“It is a decision that I have not come to lightly but one that sits very easily with me and indeed with my wife, Aoife, and we are confident that I am making the decision for the right reasons,” he said in a statement on Friday morning.
“My decision has always been that I would leave at this time – after the Rugby World Cup 2015 – and I would like to thank Leinster Rugby and the IRFU for their support in facilitating this process which began last summer.
“I am so proud, fortunate and honoured to have represented my province and country for 17 seasons but I am leaving on my terms which is how everyone would wish to end their professional rugby careers.”
D’Arcy, who formed a devastating, decade-long partnership with Brian O’Driscoll for both province and country, is expected to sign a short four-month contract with the IRFU to take him past the World Cup in England.
Whether or not he will be chosen by Joe Schmidt remains to be seen, although D’Arcy could provide cover for a depleted Leinster side during the tournament.
“In an ideal world I would have loved to have been bowing out after a Champions Cup Final and who knows maybe even a PRO12 Final, but unfortunately as players we have not achieved the targets that we set ourselves at the start of the season, in particular in the league,” he added.
“That’s life. And that’s sport at the very highest level.”
H/T SportsJOE.ie
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