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Chris Henry retiring with immediate effect

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  • 05-11-2018 12:42pm
    #1
    thomond2006
    Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭


    CHRIS HENRY OPEN LETTER

    After a great deal of thought and in-depth discussions with family and friends, I believe that now is the right time to retire from the game I love. No matter how much I would love to finish the season with this talented group, my career has taken its toll physically, and so for the wellbeing of myself, my loving wife and my family, I will be retiring immediately.

    It’s impossible to thank everyone who has contributed to my career in this short letter, but allow me to make a start.

    I am incredibly proud to be a one-club man, and I want to thank Ulster for giving me the chance to achieve my dream. The honour of putting on the white and green jerseys is something I will always cherish. I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have travelled all around the world doing what I love.

    Like any rugby career, there has been setbacks and knocks, however the incredible highs will forever outweigh the lows. Thank you to all the coaches, players, physiotherapists, doctors, back-room staff and fans that kept the faith in me.

    The heart and soul of rugby is teamwork, and I have had some incredible teammates over the years. To have lost Nevin Spence at such a young age had a huge impact on me and so many others. He was a source of inspiration and I have always tried to do the club proud as he did. Ulster and Irish Rugby will always remember his legacy. It has been a privilege to witness the new generation of young Ulster players come through the ranks with bucket-loads of talent and an incredible work ethic. I truly believe success is not far away.

    I want to thank every team I have been part of along the way – from Malone minis, to my school boy rugby at Wallace, senior rugby at both Ballymena and Malone, to Ulster and Ireland. I take joy in the fact my first and last game of rugby has been for Malone – 29 years apart!

    A huge thank you to my family for always being there for me. To my mum – this could never have happened without you. You and dad couldn’t have given me a better start in life and you have travelled across the world supporting me. To my brothers John and Daniel – thank you for always being my biggest fans and believing in me. We sadly lost our father William one month before my first Irish Cap but every time I put on the jersey I felt him with me. I take great happiness that he saw me lead Ulster out on many occasions and no doubt he would have enjoyed this incredible journey just as much as me. He was my best friend and we still miss him dearly.

    To my beautiful wife and soul-mate, Jade. Thank you for always supporting me during the ups and downs. I’m so excited to see what the future holds. Our family is soon to get slightly bigger and I can’t wait for this new adventure to begin!

    Finally, to the Ulster fans. Thank you for making the journey so special, and if you see me in the terraces on a Friday night, please come say hi!

    Yours in rugby,
    Chris (Chad)

    https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2018/11/chris-henry-to-retire/

    A top player for Ulster over the years and a key player in Ireland's 2014 Six Nations win, starting every game at openside flanker.


Comments

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    #2
    Utah_Saint
    Registered Users Posts: 1,781 ✭✭✭Utah_Saint


    Thanks for everything Chad!  Best of luck in all your future endeavours.  A great player and top bloke.


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    #3
    prawnsambo
    Registered Users Posts: 13,011 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Had some memorable moments in both white and green. His health problems obviously have called a halt to his career, but at least he picked up a 6N medal along the way.

    Looking at this clip, reminds me of how many players have since retired or moved on in the last three years. This was a warm up match for the 2015 RWC, scored one of his 4 tries for Ireland here.

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


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    #4
    jacothelad
    Registered Users Posts: 5,906 ✭✭✭jacothelad


    He was a fine player and is a fine man...just like his dad.....


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    #5
    Paul Smeenus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Paul Smeenus


    Perfect example of the value of keeping working away, improving how you fulfill your role. Was written off internationally two, three years before that Six Nations, but just kept plugging away to the best of his abilities.


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    #6
    Wikidy
    Registered Users Posts: 120 ✭✭Wikidy


    I remember O'Driscoll name checking him as the only Ulster player that Leinster altered their game plan for. Really good, solid, close quarters operator.


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    #7
    Dubinusa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,137 ✭✭✭Dubinusa


    Best of luck to him. A quality player and leader.


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    #8
    Brewster
    Registered Users Posts: 3,093 ✭✭✭Brewster


    Another one bites the dust. Chris can look back on his career with great pride. Was that nuisance of a player that opposition players hated to play against. I have fond memories of seeing him play many times in the green of Ireland. While I never met him, he was a true gentleman by all accounts. Go well in retirement.


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    #9
    Tommybojangles
    Registered Users Posts: 388 ✭✭Tommybojangles


    Absolutely great bit of stuff. Probably could have won more caps if he stayed healthy but did well to be first choice for a few very successful years with the competition that was there.

    just on the video, can't believe Isaac Boss started a game for Ireland only 3 years ago 😮


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    #10
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,620 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Tough hombre. Best wishes to him in his post playing career.


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