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Luke Fitzgerald retires

  • 28-06-2016 7:23am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total


    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.


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,071 ✭✭✭✭wp_rathead


    Awh fnck :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,805 ✭✭✭✭Pudsy33


    Oh ffs :( terrible news.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,231 ✭✭✭A-Train


    Terrible news gutted for him!


  • Registered Users Posts: 297 ✭✭Mini850


    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.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,721 ✭✭✭Otacon


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

    Appreciate players while we have them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,773 ✭✭✭connemara man


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,076 ✭✭✭✭vienne86


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,899 ✭✭✭✭BBDBB


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


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,668 ✭✭✭Mahatma Geansai


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,076 ✭✭✭✭vienne86


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,846 ✭✭✭shootermacg


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,150 ✭✭✭✭LuckyGent88


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,530 ✭✭✭dub_skav


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,300 ✭✭✭✭razorblunt


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 24,767 ✭✭✭✭molloyjh


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,521 ✭✭✭sioda


    Crap news great player respected by all supporters imo.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,676 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    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.


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ Novalee Worried Walkway


    Real pity, best of luck to him.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,012 ✭✭✭leakyboots


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


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,459 ✭✭✭kuang1


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,546 ✭✭✭✭phog


    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.


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,690 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


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

    Shame to see him retire so young


  • Subscribers Posts: 41,963 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,006 ✭✭✭Moflojo


    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. :)


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    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.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭former total


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



    Something in my eye...


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    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.


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ Novalee Worried Walkway


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,558 ✭✭✭✭castletownman


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


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


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


    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.


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  • Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 26,403 Mod ✭✭✭✭Peregrine


    Ah, crap :(

    Immensely talented. He was very unfortunate with injuries.

    :(


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,732 ✭✭✭clsmooth


    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.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,239 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    How or when did he hurt his neck?

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


  • Registered Users Posts: 250 ✭✭gamma001


    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


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,690 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    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


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,093 ✭✭✭Brewster


    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....


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,636 ✭✭✭✭Tox56


    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


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    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!!!


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,239 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,773 ✭✭✭connemara man


    .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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,414 ✭✭✭✭Trojan


    .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! :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,469 ✭✭✭Melodeon


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,652 ✭✭✭✭AbusesToilets


    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.


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