Rugby:Two Leinster servants, John Fogarty and Ronan McCormack, announced their immediate retirement from the game due to injury.
Fogarty, who played 165 games in all for Leinster, Munster and Connacht in a career spanning 10 years, was forced to retire having suffered from concussion. The 33-year-old hooker earned his only Ireland cap against New Zealand during this year’s summer tour and was part of Leinster’s Heineken Cup winning squad.
McCormack played 53 times for the province and also lined out for Ulster and Connacht, but the prop has been struggling with a neck injury.
“It is regrettable that both players are retiring due to injury. Both John and Ronan are immensely popular and talented individuals who each played a significant role in Leinster’s recent on-field success,” said Mick Dawson, Leinster chief executive.
“John joined Leinster in 2008 and has been a key figure for our province since that time, with his consistent form culminating in his first Ireland call-up on this year’s summer tour to New Zealand.
“Capped on nine occasions for Ireland ‘A’, Ronan was a key member of Leinster’s Heineken Cup and Magners League winning sides and was a consistent contributor during the 118 matches he amassed playing for Leinster, Connacht and Ulster.”
Glasgow Warriors also confirmed the retirement of winger Thom Evans after he too suffered a serious neck injury when playing for Scotland in this year’s Six Nations championship.
Evans collided with another player at the Millennium Stadium and suffered a slipped vertebra in his neck before undergoing two operations.
“When you’re told you can’t play the sport you love dearly, it comes as quite a shock. But taking everything into account, I can still do pretty much anything. I just can’t play a physical game such as rugby,” said Evans who retired on medical advice.
“I’ve been fortunate to have played six seasons at the top against some of the best players in the world. I’ll have those memories for the rest of my life.”