Leinster Forward Forced To Retire With Immediate Effect

Leinster and Ireland lock Mike McCarthy has announced that he is to retire from rugby with immediate effect due to an elbow injury that is worse than first realised.

He will not as a result be joining Narbonne in the summer.

Speaking to Leinster Rugby, McCarthy is saddened and says he’s still trying to get his head around it.

It’s just sad because I’ve played my last game without really knowing it, without really being able to savour it or take it in. To enjoy it more. That decision has been taken away from me and it’s difficult because even random things like I’m a dad and you do think of moments like bringing your daughter onto the pitch for a lap, maybe even with a trophy, and that’s no longer an option so like I said it’s just difficult right now to get my head around.

For 17 years I’ve been playing the game I love, running around tearing into people and having people tear into you. How do you replace that? You probably can’t but it’s trying to get my head around it all.

We wish him all the best.