Munster’s Andrew Conway forced to retire with immediate effect

Andrew Conway has released a statement noting that he will retire with immediate effect from professional rugby due to a knee injury.

BREAKING: Andrew Conway retires from professional rugby with immediate effect due to a knee injury. Pic:Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Graham Rowntree paid tribute to a brilliant professional and fantastic player as Munster and Ireland wing Andrew Conway announced his retirement with immediate effect on Thursday, due to a knee injury.

Conway, 32, played his 150th game for his adopted province on October 21 and marked the milestone appearance with his 50th try for Munster. 

Yet having played his first game since June 2022, ending a 16-month spell on the sidelines, the comeback was to be shortlived and while the news of his retirement is a terrible personal and professional blow, he will have at least bowed out in style, his brief spell in Ireland’s pre-tournament World Cup training squad this summer underlining how he was still regarded as one of Ireland’s elite wingers.

“Andy is a hugely respected and popular member of the squad and has been a fantastic player for Munster Rugby over the last 10 years,” Munster head coach Rowntree said in a statement accompanying Conway’s own farewell.

“Along with being outstanding on the field, he is such an important part of the group off the field and a person who contributed so much to this province. He was a huge fans’ favourite and just an incredibly talented player who you could always rely on.

“He worked tirelessly to get back playing and I was delighted to see him score his 50th Munster try on his 150th appearance against Sharks last month. A brilliant professional, he has been a pleasure to work with and I know he is going to go on and enjoy more success in whatever he chooses to do next.

“We wish Andy and his family all the best.” 

Conway will depart as Munster’s third-highest try scorer of all time having earned 30 Ireland caps and scored 15 tries since a 2017 Test debut against Six Nations opponents England. 

A dazzling schoolboys and underage wing for Blackrock College and Leinster, he made his senior debut with his home province at the age of 18 against Scarlets in 2010. He moved south to Munster three years later after 42 appearances in blue and scored his first try in red in his fourth appearance, against Cardiff in November 2013.

Yet the try for which Munster supporters will best remember Conway for was against Toulon in the closing stages of a Champions Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park. 

It is a score that remains one of the most treasured moments in the province’s rich European history, the wing managing to catch a clearing kick on tiptoes to prevent it finding touch near halfway, then accelerating off the left wing through a host of Toulon players before finishing with a wicked swerve to leave the last defender for dead and score close to the posts and help seal a 20-19 victory.

Conway toured that summer with Ireland as they claimed a historic first three-Test series win in Australia and was his country’s leading try scorer at the following year’s World Cup in Japan but time lost to injury in 2022-23 cost the opportunity of a second appearance at the final.

In a moving statement, Conway thanked the Munster and IRFU medics for their care and commitment and added: “I’ve been very fortunate to have been coached by some fantastic people. Thank you all. In particular to Felix Jones for showing me the way, Andy Farrell for having such belief in me and Graham Rowntree for your support in these tough times.

“To my team-mates from my first Leinster cap in 2010 all the way to my last Munster cap last month. It was an honour to go to battle with you all. I’m more grateful than words can express.

“Thank you to all those in Blackrock College, Blackrock College RFC and Leinster Rugby for giving me my first opportunities in the game.

“My love for Munster goes back to the 2006 European Cup final in Cardiff with my Dad. I’ll never forget walking into the stadium to see it full of red jerseys, the cameras panning to O’Connell street in Limerick… it was always Munster. To play for this great club was the best decision I ever made. Thank you to all the Munster supporters that embraced me as one of your own!

“Playing for Ireland was my dream come true. Singing the national anthem with my team-mates, watched on by family and friends was the proudest I’ve ever been.

“To my parents and sisters, thank you for your unconditional support over the years. Through the ups and downs I’ve always known you were there for me and it meant so much to share the journey with you all.

“To my wife Liz, it’s no coincidence that my career started to take off when you moved down to Limerick. Your support and sacrifices over the years have driven me on more than you’ll ever know. Having you in the stands for game days always gave me comfort and I’ll forever cherish the last day with yourself and Hailey in Thomond Park.

“Lastly, I’ll miss the big days in red and green but not as much as the daily pursuit and shared team goal of reaching our potential. I’m not exactly sure what is next but I’m very excited to take all the learnings from the last 14 years into the next chapter.

“Forever Grateful.”