THE NEWS of Shane Horgan’s retirement through injury, a week after Jerry Flannery made the same announcement, hardly comes as a surprise but is no less poignant. At the forefront of the golden generation, all in all the 33-year-old is entitled to reflect on a stellar career.
From less than fertile rugby territory at Boyne RFC, and educated in St Mary’s Diocesan School in Drogheda, Horgan represented his native Meath at minor football level before joining Lansdowne FC. In 13 seasons with Leinster, dating back from a debut against Ulster in August 1998 to last May’s Grand Final against Munster, Horgan made over 200 appearances, scoring 71 tries and winning both a brace of Heineken Cups (2008/09 and 2010/11) and Celtic Leagues (2001/02 and 2007/08). He has made more appearances (87) in the Heineken Cup for Leinster than any other player and only Brian O’Driscoll has bettered his tally of tries (27).
Winning the first of his 65 caps against Scotland in February, 2000, when he scored the first of his 21 Test tries and scored in each of his first three Tests that season, Horgan was part of three Triple Crown-winning sides and played in two World Cups. Selected for the Lions in New Zealand in 2005, Horgan was a victim of Clive Woodward’s bizarre selection policy when, despite multiple changes, he appeared as a replacement in all three Tests.
Converting, ultimately, from an inside centre to a highly-effective international Test winger, his finishing and ability in the air contributed to some iconic Horgan moments. One was of his stretching every sinew of his 6ft 4in frame in reaching out for the line by the corner flag from Peter Stringer’s skip-pass to score his second try and complete a late, pitch-length match-winning move for the Triple Crown success at Twickenham in 2006.
Another was his gather and score from Ronan O’Gara’s crosskick in the 43-13 win over the same opponents at Croke Park a year later. “It did feel like it was a huge sporting day but it also felt like a bit of social history as well . . . I’m very thankful that Ronan O’Gara can put a ball on a sixpence and it’s a great memory for me.”
Having played through the pain barrier last season, when he completed the full 80 minutes in back-to-back Heineken Cup and league grand finals, a summer operation could not rectify his knee problem. “While I am disappointed that injury has forced me to retire now, I know I have been very lucky to have had such a long and largely injury-free career,” said Horgan yesterday. He also thanked the IRFU, Leinster, their medical staffs, fellow players and all those who helped shaped his career, including family, friends, Boyne RFC and Lansdowne as well as Ireland and Leinster supporters, and his many coaches. “To perform at the top of any professional sport players need good coaches and Ireland has been well served during my time with the national squad. At Leinster, to have played under Mike Ruddock, Matt Williams, Michael Cheika and, as it turned out for the last season of my career, Joe Schmidt, represents the kind of good fortune that only ‘lucky’ players get.”
Describing Horgan as “one of the greats of Leinster and Irish rugby”, which he assuredly is, Joe Schmidt added: “He was a strong leader within the group whose contribution off the field mirrored his many feats on it.”
Articulate and with a shrewd rugby brain, a career in law awaits (he has a Masters from Trinity) while he is also likely to dabble in punditry, having made impressive initial strides with Newstalk and RTÉ television. He contributed to last year’s highlights coverage of the World Cup and to this season’s Six Nations, standing in impressively for Conor O’Shea. As O’Driscoll noted on twitter, Brent Pope had a sore neck from nodding in agreement with Horgan.
Regrets, he has one in particular, missing out on the 2009 Grand Slam. “Having been involved for the previous eight years it was something I would have loved to have been involved in,” he told RTÉ News, “but it wasn’t to be and if I have to look back on my career as a whole that same year we won the first of our Heineken Cups and have won another one since. So although the Grand Slam was a disappointment, the two Heineken Cups certainly made up for it.”
SHANE HORGAN
DOB: July 18th, 1978
Birthplace: Bellewstown, Co Meath
Height: 1.93 m (6ft 4in)
Weight: 104 kg (16st 5 lb) Position: Centre/Wing
Club: Boyne RFC
School: St Mary’s, Drogheda
Leinster caps: 207 (71 tries).
Ireland Caps: 65 (21 tries)
Lions Tour: New Zealand (2005) 7 appearances, 1 try, 3 Tests.
