Mike Prendergast: Keith Earls will leave a 'huge' legacy after retiring

Keith Earls will leave a "huge" legacy in Irish rugby after calling time on his 16-year career, says Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast.

The 36-year-old won his 100th Ireland cap during this summer's warm-up match against England and his subsequent appearances this autumn meant he has featured in four World Cups.

The 2018 Six Nations grand slam winner also managed to end his career-long association with Munster off the back of a victory in the United Rugby Championship final in May and speaking to RTÉ 2fm's Game On, his ex-provincial team-mate and current Munster attack coach Prendegrast was effusive in his praise of the Moyross, Limerick native.

"What a brilliant guy, honest as you'll meet, humble as you'd meet, brilliant family man, brilliant team player and an outstanding rugby player," he said.

"I've known Keith since he was about 10 or 11. I luckily played with his dad, Ger, in Young Munsters, 25 years ago it is now actually.

"He was 11 at the time when I first met him and I followed his career once I had that attachment with him and his family. His dad Ger, as I mentioned, and his mum Sandra are great people.

"He was a brilliant schools player with Munchin's College and won a Senior Cup in 2006, went into the Munster academy and then ended up playing with Munster at 19, got capped at 20, scored his first try in Thomond Park against Canada in a friendly game there and then at 21 played with the Lions.

"So that's some start to a career at 19, 20 and 21 and to be that grounded through your career especially as a young guy I think speaks volumes of Keith and what he's done."

Prendergast also highlighted his explosiveness as well as the versatility and footwork he showed from an early age and right through a career marked by