Ireland and Leinster’s Eoin Reddan confirms retirement from rugby

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EOIN REDDAN HAS confirmed he will retire from professional rugby this summer.

The 35-year-old, who is currently in South Africa with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, will enter the aviation finance sector.

Reddan is hanging his boots up. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

The Limerick man began his playing days with Old Crescent RFC, before moving into professional rugby with Munster and Connacht.

A transfer to Wasps in 2005 saw Reddan win a Heineken Cup and a Premiership, while he made 125 appearances for the club before joining Leinster in 2009. Two further Heineken Cups, two Pro12 titles and a Challenge Cup crown followed back in Ireland.

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Reddan made his international debut in 2006 against France and has gone on to earn 70 caps in Test rugby, while his 71st and final appearance will come on Saturday against the Springboks if Schmidt uses him off the bench.

Reddan featured in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 World Cups, we well as helping Ireland to Six Nations titles in 2014 and 2015.

“I have been privileged to be part of so many successful teams over the course of my career,” said Reddan of his retirement.

“To win European and domestic honours with both Wasps and Leinster has been fantastic and to taste Six Nations success with Ireland over the past three seasons has been incredible.

Reddan had some glory years with Wasps. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

“I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that professional rugby has provided over the course of my career but feel that now is the right time to commit to the next chapter of my life and take on a new challenge.

“I have a fantastic opportunity in a dynamic industry that will bring a new set of challenges and opportunities for myself and my family.   I am grateful to Leinster and the IRFU for supporting my decision to take up this opportunity.

“My parents Geraldine and Don had a massive influence on everything about me from a young age up until today.  Don has barely missed a minute of my career in 15 years.  My brothers Donal, Diarmuid, Alan and Cian have been behind me every step of the way and have travelled the world to support me.

“I’ve been blown away by all their efforts and I realise how much it helped me to stay motivated and to keep on pushing as hard as I could until the very end.

“There are so many players, coaches, conditioners, physios and management that I have worked with that have become great friends. I’d like to thank them all as these people helped me on and off the pitch right throughout the ups and downs of my rugby career.

Leinster benefitted from Reddan’s rugby intellect. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

“I’d also like to thank the group friends I’ve had since I was 13 years old. Particularly in the early years they were very good at picking me up or dragging me back down to earth with a bang.

“I am looking forward to having some weekends to catch up with them.

“Finally, I’d like to finish by thanking everyone who supported me and the teams I have played in. It was humbling to experience that level of support whether it be on the best days or the toughest and I will never forget it.”

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