Jamie Heaslip has announced his retirement from rugby following medical advice.
"I have had to take on board the medical advice that I have been given and after talking to Sheena and my family I have taken the difficult decision to retire with immediate effect from playing rugby in order to ensure my future wellbeing."
Thanks for everything pic.twitter.com/cZpK78vzXu
— jamie heaslip (@jamieheaslip) February 26, 2018
"I'm very proud to finish my career as a one-club man having played amongst some of the best in the game, who are all like a family of brothers to me," he added.
The forward leaves the game with 95 Irish caps and having represented the British and Irish Lions 5 times.
He was part of the Ireland team who secured the Grand Slam in 2009 and also won the championship in 2014 and 2015.
Heaslip also helped to bring three European Cups to Leinster and finished off the Irish move which won try of the year in 2016.
Irish boss Joe Schmidt described the player as, "Utterly professional, driven to succeed and a leader with the actions he delivered."
Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen commented on the announcement:
“We are all saddened by the news that Jamie is retiring from the game after sustaining an injury before the Ireland against England game last March.
"I don’t think any Leinster fan, myself included, will forget his try in the 2009 Heineken Cup Final against Leicester Tigers when he drove himself over the line with a little help from Shane Jennings, or his wrap around scoring pass to Johnny Sexton in the 2011 Heineken Cup Final, or his vital turnover on our own try line as Ulster were on the attack in the 2012 Heineken Cup Final. When it came to the big occasions, Jamie somehow always delivered big moments"
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