Keith Earls going out on his own terms as he announces retirement
Keith Earls has announced his retirement from rugby following a 16-year professional career with Munster and Ireland.
Earls made the decision after Ireland’s exit from the World Cup, during which he won his 101st Test cap, and finishes as the country’s second highest try scorer behind Brian O’Driscoll with 36.
The 36-year-old started all of Ireland’s matches during the 2018 Grand Slam-winning campaign and most recently featured at his fourth World Cup.
Earls scored 64 tries in 202 appearances for Munster, which saw him second in the club’s all-time list.
Limerick-born Earls helped Munster win the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship Grand Final against South African side Stormers in May and was also part of the successful European Cup squad in 2008.
“The game of rugby has given me so much and I feel privileged to have represented my home province Munster and Ireland over the course of my career. I have always tried to be a good friend and team-mate and give all of myself to the jersey,” Earls said.
“While retirement is never an easy decision, now is the right time and I feel incredibly fortunate to go out on my own terms representing Ireland on the highest stage.”
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said: “A gifted and committed outside back, Keith’s influence transcends his on-field achievements, of which there were many, both for Munster and Ireland. Keith was also a leader and an incredibly positive force and he will be missed.”
Munster head coach Graham Rowntree added: “Earlsie is an icon of Munster and Irish rugby. It’s hard to imagine Munster Rugby without Keith Earls and he has given so much to this province.”
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> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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