Time is right to retire but Simon Zebo still has the magic

As Conor Murray ran in Munster's bonus-point try in their recent BKT United Rugby Championship win against Connacht, the scrum-half was guided to the line by a beaming Simon Zebo.

The full-back had played the final pass which afforded Murray a jog to the line from the edge of the 22, having exploded onto Alex Nankivell’s inside ball to open Connacht up at the seam.

And as he escorted Murray towards the post, Zebo zig-zagged with arms spread wide like an airplane coming in to land.

In a professional career that’s lasted more than 250 games between Munster, Racing 92 and Ireland, across a spell of 14 years, the Corkman has never missed a chance to remind us all that rugby, and sport, is meant to be fun.

We got an early taste of his mindset when he went on the British and Irish Lions tour in 2013, and their behind the scenes documentary caught the moment he had to phone up then-Munster head coach Rob Penney and request the captaincy of the province, as part of a punishment in a squad court session.

His attitude wasn’t to everybody’s taste. In 2018, while scoring a Champions Cup try for Racing 92 against Ulster, his audacity to wave a finger at the covering Ulster defenders saw him receive a telling off from Nigel Owens, who failed to see the irony of someone making a moment all about themselves. Throughout his career, his usual 'Z’ celebration irritated some of the 'Rugby Values' purists who had a bit too much starch in the collars of their Number Ones.

That emphasis on having fun on the pitch is arguably the reason his international career ended at 35 caps. His move from Munster to Racing 92 ultimately saw his chances of playing for Ireland halted in late 2017 until he returned to the province in 2021, but there was always an