'A fitting way for me to finish up': Munster legend Dave Kilcoyne to retire from rugby

“The last two years haven’t gone as planned with surgeries to my shoulder and Achilles," said the 36-year-old. 

Dave Kilcoyne is one of only 15 players to have reached the 200-cap landmark for Munster. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Dave Kilcoyne has confirmed he is retiring from professional rugby after a 15-year career with Munster and Ireland.

Serious shoulder and Achilles tendon injuries, both of which required surgery, have restricted the loosehead prop to just five appearances in the last two seasons since Kilcoyne’s return from the 2023 World Cup, at which he earned his 56th and final Ireland cap off the bench in the quarter-final defeat to New Zealand.

The 36-year-old has started just one game for Munster since, against Leinster at Christmas 2023, when his season was halted with a shoulder injury, while a separate pre-season injury the following summer saw him sidelined until last December.

Unfortunately, Kilcoyne was back on the treatment table after just two pre-Christmans appearances off the bench against Castres and Ulster and on Wednesday he accepted his retirement decision had been made for him after 220 appearances for his province, one of only 15 players to have reached the 200-cap landmark for Munster.

“Growing up living in Limerick, my dream was always to play for Munster and Ireland,” Kilcoyne said in a statement issued by Munster.

“To have done so for so long has been a dream come true.

“The last two years haven’t gone as planned with surgeries to my shoulder and Achilles. In a way, it’s easier that the decision to play on has been taken away from me.

“I take great pride in knowing that I always gave everything I had and left nothing on the pitch. It’s almost a fitting way for me to finish up.

“I want to thank all the coaches that have influenced my career right the way up from UL Bohemians, Ardscoil Rís, Munster and Ireland.

“I want to thank my family who have been a constant support throughout my career. I certainly wouldn’t have had the career I had if it wasn’t for their unwavering support over the years.

“I want to thank all my team-mates that I shared the battlefield with over the years, a lot of whom are my best friends today.

“To the red army of Munster supporters that have cheered and supported me and my career since 2011, thank you – I look forward to joining you in the stands!” Kilcoyne also mapped out his future intentions beyond professional rugby adding: “I’d also like to thank the University of Limerick (and my mother) for encouraging me and accommodating my education over the years. After my degree in Business Studies, I was able to complete an MSc in Business Project Management in 2019.

“I am just about to finish a Professional Diploma in Aircraft Leasing and Finance and hope to graduate in the summer. This wouldn’t have been possible without the help and understanding of the lecturers and University.

“I’m extremely excited for what the next chapter brings and using all the skills and life lessons that my rugby career has given me.” A strong carrier, Kilcoyne excelled in open-field play as much as the set-piece and scored 22 tries for Munster and two for Ireland in a Test career that saw him make nine appearances at the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups and contribute to the 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam success.

He also won the URC with Munster in 2022-2023, 13 years after joining the academy after coming through the ranks at Ardscoil Rís and UL Bohemian.

Kilcoyne was in the academy when he earned his senior debut, against Connacht in December 2011 and he helped Munster A to the British & Irish Cup title in April 2012. Graduating to the senior squad that summer, a Champions Cup debut followed in October 2012 away to Racing 92 and Declan Kidney handed the front-rower his Ireland debut a month later against South Africa, the breakout season capped by a Six Nations debut in 2013 and a tour to North America that summer.

One of the most durable players in the Munster squad, Kilcoyne was his province’s most used player in 2013-14, when he played in 30 of 31 games and was named on the PRO12 Dream Team. He played in 26 of 28 competitive games in 2015-16 and made the most appearances of the 2016-17 campaign, playing in 31 games.

Kilcoyne reached 150 appearances in 2017-18, and his 200th for Munster in February 2022, with his final game coming last December off the bench at Ulster.

Head of Rugby Operations and Interim Head Coach Ian Costello paid tribute to the prop.

“We knew Killer had the potential to be a fantastic player for Munster and Ireland when he came into our Academy in 2010,” Costello said.

“He certainly fulfilled that potential and to have played a combined 276 games for Munster and Ireland is an outstanding achievement.

“I know everyone at Ardscoil Rís and UL Bohs have taken huge pride in his accomplishments since he made his Munster debut in 2011.

“Along with being a quality player, he is a great character and will be sorely missed around the HPC.

“I’m sure he will enjoy great success in whatever he chooses to do next and we wish him and his family the very best for the future.” IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys added: “It is never an easy day for a player to hang up their boots, but Dave can look back on his career with immense pride.

“As both a character and a driving force on the field he will be missed, but to play more than 50 times for his country tells you all you need to know about his abilities as a high-class loosehead prop.

“Dave made an enormous contribution to the red of Munster and green of Ireland and he can reflect on playing his part on a successful era for Irish rugby.

“On behalf of everyone in Irish rugby I would like to wish him and his family the very best in the future.”