Ireland back McFadden retires: ‘It’s been a dream come true’

Ireland back Fergus McFadden has revealed he will retire at the end of the season, calling time on a career that took in World Cup, Six Nations and European club rugby exploits.

The 33-year-old won 34 caps for his country, pulling on the green shirt from 2011 to 2018 and scoring 10 tries as a versatile wing and centre.

He has made 184 appearances to date for Leinster, helping the province become European champions twice, appearing in their 2011 and 2012 Champions Cup final triumphs over Northampton and Ulster respectively.

He missed the 2018 final victory over Racing 92 after injuring himself three weeks earlier when scoring a try in the semi-final win against the Scarlets.

McFadden said: “They say the best time to leave a party is when you’re still having fun so the time has come for me to announce my retirement from the end of the season.”

He told Leinster’s website: “It’s hard to put into words what a privilege it has been to have had such a long career playing for the team I grew up supporting and pulling on a green jersey to play for my country. It has been a dream come true.”

McFadden went with Ireland to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and bagged a try in the group game against Russia in Rotorua, while he also helped his country win the 2014 and 2018 Six Nations and appeared in six campaigns.

Well done to @fergmcfadden on a terrific career. A tremendous servant for @leinsterrugby & @irishrugby – never gave anything but his best for the cause 

Best of luck on the next step Ferg! pic.twitter.com/k7um3CbEEw

— RugbyPlayersIreland (@RugbyPlayersIRE) May 3, 2020

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: “Fergus has been an amazing contributor to lots of great things that have taken place in Leinster and Irish rugby and he’s definitely one of the great characters that we’ve had around in the group. He had so many strings to his bow and he’s going to be a great loss to the group.

“We are being guided by public health guidelines at the moment but naturally the hope is that Fergus gets the chance to pull on the Leinster jersey again.”

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