Injury-hit O’Loughlin calls it quits at Connacht

ANOTHER Irish rugby player has been forced to retire because of injury.

Connacht’s scrum-half Conor O’Loughlin has had to quit the game with a hip injury, a week after Munster’s Ian Dowling’s medically-ordered retirement.

The westerner sustained an injury to his hip in December 2006 against Montpellier.

“I’ve exhausted every medical avenue at this stage and I’ve been advised that I can no longer continue my career as a professional rugby player,” he said.

“It’s taken me a while to get my head around it but everyone’s been really helpful and supportive, especially my family and friends, and I’m very grateful to them for that.”

But, just like Dowling, he has an education to fall back on.

“Rugby’s been my life for the last eight years so I’m going to have to look at my options now, I’ve completed a Masters of Finance, my CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) level one exam and I’m sitting the level two in June.

“I’ve no regrets at all. I’ve been living the dream for the last eight years and I’m sure I’ll come back to it at some stage in some form or another but for now I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Conor made his debut against London Irish in August ‘03 and scored his first try later that week against a star-studded Munster team that boasted Keith Wood and Paul O’Connell.

“I’ve played in some great matches over the years, playing Harlequins in the Sportsground in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup in ‘04 was special. That was my first time playing in front of such a huge home crowd and the atmosphere was amazing.”

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood said losing a Connacht-born player was a disappointment.

“We’re all very disappointed that Conor can no longer play,” he said. “He’s been a great servant to Connacht rugby over the years and will be a massive loss to the club. The manner in which Conor has dealt with his injury is remarkable and it is a huge shame that Connacht are losing a home-grown player of his talents.”