Leinster and Ireland hooker Sean Cronin calls time on rugby career

Leinster and Ireland hooker Seán Cronin is to retire from rugby at the end of this season. The Limerick-born player, who turns 36 next month, has to date won 204 caps for Leinster Rugby, and has represented Ireland on 72 occasions.

The Limerick native joined Leinster Rugby from Connacht Rugby in 2011 and made his Leinster debut in October of that year against Edinburgh Rugby. A few weeks later made his European debut, scoring a try off the bench against Montpellier.

In his time with Leinster Rugby, Cronin has won two Heineken Champions Cup medals, a Challenge Cup medal and six PRO12/14 titles. In 2015, he was named the Players’ Player of the Year and his form for Leinster also saw him awarded the Supporters’ Player of the Year Award in 2019.

He made his Ireland debut in 2009 and was part of the 2014 and the 2015 Six Nations-winning squads and the Grand Slam-winning squad of 2018.

The year of the Grand Slam, he scored the crucial bonus-point try in the final round win over Scotland.

Announcing his retirement, Cronin issued the following statement: "After 14 years, I can confirm that this will be my last season playing professional rugby.

"It has been a unique journey for me starting off in Limerick many years ago, travelling to Galway to set my sights on playing professionally and finishing in Dublin where it’s been an incredible 11 years of so many great days in blue and green.

"I’m excited for what the future holds. Next season I will be taking over as head coach of St Mary’s College RFC where I look forward to developing my coaching aspirations along with furthering my education in the financial field, but most importantly spending time with my family."

Leinster Rugby head coach Leo Cullen said, “Seán — or Nugget as he