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Ireland back McFadden to retire this summer

Fergus McFadden 19/3/2016
Two-time Guinness Six Nations winner Fergus McFadden will hang up his boots at the end of the season and draw the curtain on a 13-year professional career.

Two-time Guinness Six Nations winner Fergus McFadden will hang up his boots at the end of the season and draw the curtain on a 13-year professional career.

The Ireland and Leinster winger won 34 international caps and scored ten tries, and was part of the side that won the 2014 Championship and 2018 Grand Slam.

McFadden has also played 184 times for Leinster, scoring 29 tries, and won three European Champions Cups.

“They say the best time to leave a party is when you’re still having fun,” he said.

“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.

“It has been a dream come true.

“To the players, there are too many for me to name individually right now but all I can say is that it has been an honour to play and work alongside such incredibly talented and professional people.

“The friendships and memories I have made are ones I will cherish for the rest of my life – not to mention the many laughs we had along the way!”

McFadden made his international debut against Italy in the first round of the 2011 Six Nations, starting on the wing in a narrow 13-11 victory.

His first try came a week later as he dotted down in just the fourth minute against France, although Morgan Parra’s boot helped Les Bleus to a 25-22 win in the first Championship match at the Aviva Stadium.

McFadden featured in all five Six Nations matches three years later as Ireland claimed the title, playing in the centres and on the wing – while he scored a try in the 46-7 win against Italy.

And in 2018, he played in two matches as Ireland won the Grand Slam, coming off the bench away in France and at home to Wales.