Connacht Rugby legend Tiernan O’Halloran has announced his retirement from the professional game.
After 15 years with his home province, and six caps for Ireland, the Clifden native confirmed he will finish up at the end of the current season.
“From Connemara RFC through Garbally College and Cistercian College, Roscrea, I have embraced every minute of living an absolute dream, and I look forward to being a supporter for years to come,” O’Halloran said in a statement.
One of the all-time greats for Connacht Rugby, the fullback scored 48 tries in 236 games. O’Halloran made his senior Connacht debut at the age of just 18 in 2009, against Olympus Madrid in the Challenge Cup. He has been an ever-present member of the Pro squad since.
O’Halloran earned his first cap for Ireland against South Africa in 2016. He will be forever remembered for scoring the opening try of the 2016 Guinness PRO12 grand final. He followed up that great season by being named Connacht Rugby Player of the Year in 2017.
In a statement, O’Halloran thanked his parents, siblings, fiancée Emily and son Rían for support. O'Halloran’s father Aidan was a member of the 1982 All-Ireland winning Offaly football team. Young Tiernan played GAA in Clifden at club level, and was on the Galway minor panel for two years.
“I could never have imagined as a nine-year-old boy starting rugby growing up in Clifden that I would have experienced the career I was lucky to live.”
The 33-year-old said he is looking forward to being a spectator at Connacht’s new Dexcom Stadium once he hangs his boots up for a final time. Connacht have yet to play Munster, Stormers in Galway, then Leinster away before the season ends on May 31.
