Luke Fitzgerald retires

former total · 28-06-2016 7:23am #1

Deserves its own thread.

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/15040.php#.V3IjiPkrLIU

Three Heineken Cup medals, two Pro12s, a Grand Slam, a Six Nations medal and a Lions test winger.

But still so much unfulfilled promise and a terrible waste.

Best of luck to him.

former total · 28-06-2016 7:27am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUH7Jm2iWSY

wp_rathead · 28-06-2016 7:31am

Awh fnck

Pudsy33 · 28-06-2016 7:34am

Oh ffs

terrible news.

A-Train · 28-06-2016 7:35am

Terrible news gutted for him!

Mini850 · 28-06-2016 7:36am

Gutted...... so unlucky with injuries. Always gave it 100%. His tackle on Howlet against Munster (where he injured himself surprisingly) will always be a highlight for me.

Otacon · 28-06-2016 7:38am

Only 28. A huge talent too. Hope the future is bright for him.

Appreciate players while we have them.

connemara man · 28-06-2016 7:43am

Hope he has a good post rugby career.

Injury stopped him from fulfilling his potential. Would have been one of the greats otherwise. Will be a loss to Ireland and Leinster

Riskymove · 28-06-2016 7:44am

Sad news and a tough decision for his age. Thanks for all your efforts over the years.

I was at Lansdowne Road for his debut (against Pacific Islands I think?) and I was always thought he was a fine player but...as will be mentioned time again....unlucky. Its a sign of how early he broke through that he is still only 28 while that seems a lifetime ago.

As a Munster fan I was sorry that the rumored move didn't happen a couple of years ago.

Best of luck to him in the future

vienne86 · 28-06-2016 7:46am

Awful awful news. Poor guy. I hope he has a good life after rugby.

That's two excellent players being forced to retiire all too early - Jones and now FitzGerald.

Leinster without Reddan and Fitz next season - dammit anyway.

BBDBB · 28-06-2016 7:49am

Good luck to him, a fine servant to province and country

Mahatma Geansai · 28-06-2016 7:52am

He's a great talent who didn't quite reach his potential due to injury. A great player.

vienne86 · 28-06-2016 8:13am

There was always a great buzz in the RDS when Luke would return after an absence - usually as a result of an injury......we'll really miss that.

shootermacg · 28-06-2016 8:19am

Sad day for irish rugby. Great player! Will be missed.

LuckyGent88 · 28-06-2016 8:23am

Friend of mine told me this at the weekend when he was home from Dublin. Had heard that Fitzgerald has had difficulty with feeling in one of his hands due to all the injuries.

Devastating for him. So much talent unfulfilled and would have near on 100 caps only for his injuries.

ThisRegard · 28-06-2016 8:26am

Such a shame, poor lad was dogged with injury over the years, but was a joy when at full flight.

dub_skav · 28-06-2016 8:28am

Says a lot that he is one of our most successful players ever and is still (rightly) considered an example of unfulfilled potential.

Good luck with the future and thanks for the memories.

Luuuuuuuuuuukkkkkkkkkke

razorblunt · 28-06-2016 8:46am

Incredible hard lines, seems like he was around for years yet he's only 28, never got a consistent run due to injury.
He seems happy enough with his decision though so all the best to him in his next steps.

molloyjh · 28-06-2016 8:58am

Gutted. A massive talent who never truly got going properly. It's not a huge surprise all the same. I hope he does well in future. Definitely a guy who speaks very well so certainly has a possible role as a co-commentator or analyst.

thomond2006 · 28-06-2016 9:00am

molloyjh wrote: »

Gutted. A massive talent who never truly got going properly. It's not a huge surprise all the same. I hope he does well in future. Definitely a guy who speaks very well so certainly has a possible role as a co-commentator or analyst.

He speaks Irish so I'm certain we'll see him on TG4 at some stage.

sioda · 28-06-2016 9:03am

Crap news great player respected by all supporters imo.

Akrasia · 28-06-2016 9:17am

If his health was at risk then he made the right choice. Neck injuries are not to be toyed with

I wish him all the best and he'll always have a career related to rugby if he wants to pursue one.

28-06-2016 9:29am

Real pity, best of luck to him.

leakyboots · 28-06-2016 9:46am

Shame for him, 28 is no age to retire - was always great to watch whether you're a Leinster fan or not.

kuang1 · 28-06-2016 9:53am

Holy moley that's bad news.

I was really looking forward to seeing him play 11 against the all-blacks in Nov.

Devastated. One of my favourite players to watch.

Not a decision taken lightly for sure, good luck in the future Luke.

phog · 28-06-2016 10:11am

One of the guys who would be my first name on a team sheet. Poor guy has been dogged with injury, sad to see him retire so early.

Stheno · 28-06-2016 10:12am

He was commentating on sky at the weekend and came across well.

Shame to see him retire so young

sydthebeat · 28-06-2016 10:16am

While probably inevitable due to his injury record, news of his retirement really saddened me this morning. Such potential that was only ever seen in short glimpses.

Still, he made up a vital part of arguably the best provincial back line ever.

Moflojo · 28-06-2016 10:36am

thomond2006 wrote: »

He speaks Irish so I'm certain we'll see him on TG4 at some stage.

I doubt it, he never played in the front row for Munster.

28-06-2016 10:43am

A good player who was dogged with injuries. His best season was 2008/2009
Who knows how good he could have become with a constant run injury free.

Shame to see anyone have to retire due to injury. Just seems to be one of those unlucky players, who is very injury prone.
Every time he made a comeback from injury, people were just expecting him to pick up a new injury.

He's better off retiring, and looking after himself, rather than risk more serious injuries.

former total · 28-06-2016 11:15am

I think this was his best ever display, he was just phenomenal in this game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ept4C0RfQs

Something in my eye...

28-06-2016 11:51am

I've always thought of him as one of the best outside backs we have produced after BOD, but never got a free run to really prove it. Such a shame.

28-06-2016 12:39pm

Even in the season just gone he had some superb performances. Even just Ulster in the SF he was top class, and that was two competitive games ago for Leinster. Really gutted at this news.

castletownman · 28-06-2016 1:11pm

Yet another player whose career has been cut short by injury. When is rugby going to address this glaring elephant in the room? Off the top of my head, that is four Irish players alone that have recently succumbed to injury before the age of thirty: Fitzgerald (neck), Jones (neck), Ferris (ankle), McLaughlin (concussions). That's not including Denis Leamy and the likes. Unfortunately, given his wretched injury record over the last couple of years, I fear SOB may be the next to call it a day.

Concussion has been a much argued issue within the game, but all things considered, it's becoming an increasingly physically savage game to such an extent that you would worry about your child's welfare were he/she to take it up.

Something has to be done

thomond2006 · 28-06-2016 1:14pm

I think we'll see shorter seasons in the next 5-10 years.

stephen_n · 28-06-2016 1:16pm

Was really sad when I heard about it this morning. Awful for any player to be forced out of the game by injury but Luke just never seemed to catch a break. Like many have said, if he had remained injury free, he probably would have been up there with the greats of Irish rugby. It's sad but I'd imagine we will see more and more players retiring early over the coming years.

Peregrine · 28-06-2016 1:21pm

Ah, crap

Immensely talented. He was very unfortunate with injuries.

clsmooth · 28-06-2016 1:22pm

Sad news. At least he got the chance to go the World Cup and make a real impact on the biggest stage v Argentina with his try and line break for the other try. Would have been a sporting travesty if he never got to go to one after missing out on 2007 and 2011.

Really exciting player to watch, always likely to skip out of tackle or two. Lovely step. Think he played some of his best rugby in the last 18 months after struggling to get back to his best form for a few years after the cruciate injury in 2009.

CatFromHue · 28-06-2016 2:07pm

How or when did he hurt his neck?

It was his knee that stopped him from going on tour to SA!

gamma001 · 28-06-2016 2:21pm

Amazing player and so sad to hear the news.

If we had of won the game against Argentina he would have been more recognised for the unbelievable impact he had.

Such a shame

Stheno · 28-06-2016 2:26pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

How or when did he hurt his neck?

It was his knee that stopped him from going on tour to SA!

Pro12 final apparently

Brewster · 28-06-2016 5:16pm

Really tough news, always carried himself so well even when things appeared to go against him with all his injuries. He won't be that last player to retire in his 20s with the way the game has gone. Best wishes Luke, "dont be sad because it's over, smile because it happened". You have the medals to prove it....

Tox56 · 28-06-2016 6:42pm

Josie Little Jelly wrote: »

Even in the season just gone he had some superb performances. Even just Ulster in the SF he was top class, and that was two competitive games ago for Leinster. Really gutted at this news.

In the last few seasons hes been playing as well as he ever has, its not like hes had some gradual decline on the field leading to this, massive shame and massive loss for Leinster, one of our best players in any position

28-06-2016 6:50pm

Stheno wrote: »

Pro12 final apparently

Not sure what the cause, but his balance was in bits that game, he couldn't stay on his feet at all.

.ak · 28-06-2016 9:04pm

The best outside back Ireland has ever produced outside of BOD.

I know some people will disagree with that, but I don't care.

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke!!!

CatFromHue · 28-06-2016 9:06pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Not sure what the cause, but his balance was in bits that game, he couldn't stay on his feet at all.

I noticed he was struggling but thought that was cos he hurt his knee.

connemara man · 28-06-2016 11:27pm

.ak wrote: »

The best outside back Ireland has ever produced outside of BOD.

I know some people will disagree with that, but I don't care.

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke!!!

If it wasn't for injury we'd talking about him in those terms for sure

29-06-2016 12:00am

http://www.newstalk.com/luke-fitzgerald-ireland-tries

Trojan · 29-06-2016 12:07am

.ak wrote: »

The best outside back Ireland has ever produced outside of BOD.

I know some people will disagree with that, but I don't care.

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke!!!

Absolutely agree.

A real shame he's done. But considering he's out at 28, that's not a bad haul of trophies and medals!

Melodeon · 29-06-2016 9:38am

He was excellent as a studio pundit on Sky Sports last weekend: articulate, knowledgeable, and comfortable in front of the camera.
He certainly has a career there if he chooses to follow it up.

AbusesToilets · 30-06-2016 12:28am

Absolutely gutted hearing this, what a **** week for sports. Up there with Hickie as an all time favorite player. Should have had a much better career, never got to see him get a proper run in the center.

Bollocks anyway.

Luke Fitzgerald retires

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