RUGBY: ALAN QUINLAN RETIRING:ALAN QUINLAN yesterday announced his intention to hang up his boots at the end of this season and while he admits it wasn't an easy decision, the Tipperary man insists the time was right time to call it a day.
The 36-year old had been toying with his options since dislocating his elbow against Connacht at the turn of the year, and was still undecided up to a couple of weeks ago.
However, an assessment of his overall situation prompted the much revered backrower to finally call time on a glorious Munster career which has spanned 15 memorable seasons.
“Certainly I thought about different options of continuing to play, but I didn’t really spend a lot of time thinking about them,” he explained during yesterday’s press conference in Limerick. “I’m going to be 37 in July. I certainly feel that if my heart was in it and my head was in it, I could go on and play and still be able to do a job for someone, whether it was Munster or someone else.
“But when you get into your mid-30s, you have to be realistic. You have to really assess every year where you are at and how you are performing.
“I wouldn’t like to carry on playing the game doing myself an injustice and letting my team-mates down, or hanging around picking up the wages. If I don’t have realistic options of being in the team, the best thing for me to do is to walk away.”
He added: “You can look at it two ways. In some ways it’s sad to be leaving, but in other ways the time is right.
“I’ll always be at Munster and Ireland’s disposal if I’m ever wanted again in the future.”
Quinlan hasn’t confirmed what he plans to do when the curtain comes down on his playing days, though he did give a strong indication he would like to return to Munster in a coaching capacity after he has taken a break from the game.
He has already completed a level-one coaching course, and plans to go on and do the next level over the summer.
“Rugby has been so good to me that I can’t just walk away from it,” he admitted. “Rugby is ingrained in me. It’s in my blood. I could see myself getting back involved in rugby and certainly I would like to in the future.”
For now, however, Quinlan’s sole focus is to add to his collection of medals and finish this season on a high.
With Celtic League, Magners League and Heineken Cup honours already to his name, the Clanwilliam clubman has achieved just about all there is to achieve in provincial rugby, and though he will always harbour certain regrets, he is at least able to look back with enormous pride.
“I’m in a lucky position, hopefully getting out of the game in one piece,” says the former mechanic.
“I’ve made some great friends and travelled the world. I’ve had an opportunity that so many people would give their right hand for.
“I’ve won Heineken Cups, played in front of what are, in my opinion, the best supporters in the world. I’ve been part of a successful period for Irish rugby, and it’s been amazing.
“I want to look back and kind of give myself a pat on the back. I probably haven’t done that all that much before. But I am pretty proud of what I achieved.”
Quinlan continued: “I’ve made great friends in the game. You go out and beat the crap out of each other on the pitch, but you shake hands afterwards and have a few pints together.
“That’s always been the case with me. I’ve played the game passionately and physically out on the pitch.
“I’ve made great friends around the world through rugby. It’s a fantastic, social game. It’s brought Munster together as a province, and the success of Irish rugby has been phenomenal over the years.
“I’ve been very lucky really, and I want to say thank you to everybody who has given me great support along the way, from my family, the people of Tipperary, players, coaches and the Munster supporters.”
Alan Quinlan
Date of birth:
July 13th, 1974
Place of birth:Tipperary
Height:6ft 3in
Weight:16st 7lbs
Position:Backrow
Clubs:Clanwilliam, Shannon
Munster Appearances:210 (32 tries)
Ireland Appearances:27 (6 tries)
O'Leary still unavailable but expected back for clash with the Ospreys
Alan Quinlan is included on a provisional 34-man squad for Saturday’s Magners League tie away to the Scarlets.
Tomás O’Leary is still unavailable because of the eye injury he picked up while on Ireland duty last month, but he has returned to training and should be available for Munster’s game against the Ospreys on April 23rd.
There are no further updates regarding Paul O’Connell, who was due to have another scan on his ankle last night, which should determine whether or not he will return before the end of the season.
MUNSTER (extended squad v Scarlets, at Parc y Scarlets, 6.15pm):F Jones, D Hurley, K Earls, P Warwick, D Howlett, L Mafi, S Tuitupou, J Murphy, D Barnes, S Zebo, C Murray, P Stringer, D Williams, D Cusack, R O'Gara, M Horan, D Hurley, W du Preez, T Buckley, J Hayes, S Archer, M Sherry, D Fogarty, D Varley, D Ryan, M O'Driscoll. A Quinlan, P Butler, D O'Callaghan, D Wallace, J Coughlan, T O'Donnell, N Ronan, D Leamy.