Munster’s Oli Jager set to retire on medical grounds

Confirmation of Oli Jager's, when it comes, will not be unexpected, but it is deeply unfortunate. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

News is expected that Munster tighthead prop Oli Jager is to retire from rugby on medical grounds.

Jager will only be 31 early next month but his professional career has been hindered by a rotten run of injuries, including a number of concussions, that have held him back during his time with the club.

Confirmation when it comes will not be unexpected, but it is deeply unfortunate.

A former member of Leinster’s academy, it was a brave and unique decision to relocate to New Zealand that saw his career take off, eventually earning recognition for Canterbury and, subsequent to that, over 50 appearances with the Crusaders.

Selections for the New Zealand Barbarians and New Zealand XV sides followed with injury ruling him out of the latter and leaving the door open to represent Ireland, which he ultimately did at ‘A’ and at Test level when appearing in the Six Nations against Wales.

That was in the spring of 2024, three months after he had made the switch from Crusaders to Munster, but his time with the province was pockmarked by injuries and he was limited to 35 appearances for the club in just less than three full seasons.

Jager’s exit leaves Munster with more work to do in a front row department that has been a concern for some time with reports that veteran tighthead and former England international Kieran Brookes is due to arrive from Perpignan.

Munster CEO Ian Flanagan had flagged a chase for All Black tighthead Tyrel Lomax last month only for the player to extend his contract with the Hurricanes and New Zealand rugby through to 2029 instead.

Flanagan has described the capture of a high-end tighthead as a “key focus” for the club.

John Ryan is retiring after 16 years of service while Roman Salanoa continues to endure injury torment with the Hawaiian stuck on just 30 caps since featuring off the bench in Munster’s URC Grand Final win three years ago.

Michael Alalatoa played 18 times, the vast majority as a starter, this season just ended while Conor Bartley and Ronan Foxe, the latter an academy man who has recently signed his first pro contract, are others further down the depth chart.