Ireland greats Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy announce retirements
EXITS: Conor Murray, Cian Healy and Peter O'Mahony. Pic: Sportsfile
Tributes to Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray have been made as Irish rugby’s triumvirate of Test centurions announced on Thursday their decisions to call time on their illustrious international careers at the conclusion of the Guinness Six Nations in three weeks.
Former Ireland captain O’Mahony and Healy, Ireland’s current most-capped international, will retire from all professional rugby at the end of the current 2024/25 season, while scrum-half Murray will pursue a playing opportunity abroad following the conclusion of his Munster Rugby contract in July.
All three players have made seismic contributions to Irish Rugby throughout their careers in green, all reaching the landmark of 100 Test caps for Ireland, winning five Guinness Men’s Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and they will hope to draw the curtain in style at the end of the 2025 Championship.
Munster’s interim head coach and head of rugby operations Ian Costello lauded the contribution of O’Mahony, who captained his province for a decade between 2013 and 2023, lifting the URC trophy in one of his final acts as skipper in Cape Town in May of that year.
“Everyone in Munster is incredibly proud of what Peter has achieved in the game over the past 17 years,” Costello said.
“We knew we had a serious prospect on our hands when he joined the Academy in 2008 but he has surpassed all of our expectations to become one of the finest players to ever line out for Munster and Ireland.
“Anyone who played alongside Pete will tell you how good a leader he is but he was also an incredibly talented player. The bigger the game, the better he played and he demanded the highest standards of himself and his team-mates.
“He made his Munster debut over 15 years ago and it’s 13 years ago this month that he made his Ireland debut. The way he has adapted his game and stayed at the very top level for so many years is a testament not only to his playing ability but also his character to keep going and make the very most of himself.
“His presence around the HPC, at Thomond Park and Virgin Media Park will be sorely missed. When the time comes, we will wish him and his family the very best for the future but thankfully we have a few more months before we say our goodbyes.”Â
O’Mahony led Ireland’s tackle count with 19 in an outstanding 80-minute performance against Wales last weekend in his 112th cap since making his Test debut against Italy in 2012. The Corkman last year captained Ireland to Six Nations glory and led the British & Irish Lions in the opening Test of the 2017 series against New Zealand.
A Munster Schools Senior Cup winner with PBC Cork in 2007, the Munster back row has been an ever-present in green over the last 15 years, featuring at three consecutive Rugby World Cups in 2015, 2019 and 2023, and making consistently invaluable contributions to the successes achieved under Joe Schmidt and, more recently, Andy Farrell.
A key leader on and off the pitch, O’Mahony has made 193 appearances for Munster having made his debut against Ulster in January 2010 and won two Celtic League/URC titles.
Healy, meanwhile, will hang up his boots as Ireland’s current most capped player having surpassed Brian O’Driscoll when coming off the bench during the 150th Anniversary Test against Australia at Aviva Stadium last November.
The prop has featured in two of Ireland’s three Championship wins this season, moving him to 136 caps in green, and he is now also Ireland’s most-capped player in the Six Nations on 66 appearances.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is a former team-mate and said: “He’s remarkable. From what he’s achieved as a player it’s incredible.
“I played quite a bit with Cian in his early days and he’s gone on to become Ireland’s most-capped player, Leinster’s most-capped player, and most-capped player in the history of the Champions Cup as well. So he’s had amazing longevity which is testament to what he’s like as a professional. I’m not sure he was the most professional player when he started off! But he soon learnt how to manage his body.
“My memory of him was he was unbelievably explosive as a young man when he started off and he was always a great character in the group and his character, I think, came more and more to the fore as his career went on.
“He’s hugely loved by the group here and he’ll be missed but it’s about the here and now and it’s for him to try and enjoy the last lap. There’s still lots to play for, with Ireland in the next couple of weeks, and with Leinster then hopefully after that.
“He’s been a remarkable servant to the game and we wish him well for what is the future, and Laura, his wife, and two boys. I know it gets said a lot but he’s one of the true greats now of the game. A remarkable individual.”Â
Healy made his Ireland debut against Australia at Croke Park in 2009 and has enjoyed a superlative career, winning five Championship titles and featuring at three Rugby World Cups, while also touring with the British and Irish Lions in 2013.
The 37-year-old has shown incredible robustness and durability to consistently deliver for his country and establish himself as one Ireland’s best-ever front-row forwards.
A Leinster Schools Senior Cup winner with Belvedere College SJ and an Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner, the Clontarf man is also Leinster’s all-time appearance holder, and has won four European Cups, a European Challenge Cup and seven Celtic League/Pro12/Pro14/URC titles to date with the Province.
Murray, who turns 36 in April, earned his 124th Ireland cap off the bench against Wales in Cardiff last Saturday to tie Rory Best as Ireland’s fourth most-capped international behind Ronan O’Gara (128), Brian O’Driscoll (133) and all-time leader Healy.Â
The Limerick scrum-half also made eight Test appearances for the British & Irish Lions across three tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021 while his next Munster appearance will be his 200th for the province.
Ireland have two matches remaining in their 2025 Six Nations campaign as they bid for a historic third title in a row, a feat which would mark the end of an era for three Irish Rugby greats in fine style.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
