Leo Cullen: ‘Luke Fitzgerald Was One Of The Greatest Wingers’

Luke Fitzgerald this morning announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect.

The 28 year old Leinster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions back suffered a neck injury in the Guinness PRO12 final and has been advised to retire on medical grounds.

Leinster head coach, Leo Cullen has said the Fitzgerald ‘was one of the greatest wingers to have represented Leister and Ireland’

“I actually coached Luke before I ever became a team mate of his, when I helped out with the Blackrock College Senior team in 2004. Although I spent the majority of my time with the forwards, you could clearly see even then as a fourth year, that Luke was a special talent.

“I was lucky enough to have played with Luke from 2007 until I retired in 2014 and have spent the last couple of seasons coaching him.

“We are all gutted here at Leinster to hear that Luke has had to retire from the game. He has had an incredible career achieving almost everything there is to achieve in rugby. He will go down as one of the greatest wingers to have represented Leinster and Ireland.

“We will miss him greatly but we wish him every success in the next phase of his life. He will be a tremendous asset to wherever he focusses his efforts.

“We look forward to welcoming Luke and his family to the RDS in the season and the seasons ahead.”

Luke Fitzgerald will not be making any further statements to media.