Looking back at the history of Irish rugby in the professional era, there are few players that have ended up having a better career than Cian Healy.
The prop has been a remarkable servant to both Leinster and Ireland since making his professional debut back in 2007, winning countless honours along the way. Now 36-years old, he continues to be an important contributor at both provincial and test level.
Healy would put pen to paper on a new deal with Leinster in recent days, something that will see him play a 19th season for the province in 2024/25. While he now looks set to finish his career at Leinster, he has had some tempting offers to move elsewhere in the past.
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Cian Healy turned down big money offers to stay at Leinster
Considering Cian Healy's status in the game, it should come as no surprise to learn that other clubs made an attempt to prise him from Leinster down through the years.
The most notable attempt came during the 2014/15 season, when it was reported at the time that a number of English and French teams were keen to take him overseas.
Speaking to the media, Healy would confirm that he did turn down some substantial offers from other clubs in the past. However, he never really gave the prospect of leaving Leinster much thought.
There was a couple of very spicy offers back in the day, yeah. If anything they were just there though, I never wanted to leave.
I never had ambitions of not playing for Ireland or Leinster. I knew I wanted to be here and living away from my family and friends doesn't greatly appeal to me.
It was 2014/15. There was a big offer after my injury. But that's the noise, that stuff. It's nice when you're young to feel wanted...you don't say no straight away...
The deal was done a while ago so it's been off my chest for a bit. I've been in a happy place for a while, no extra-curricular noise.
It's a very short career and to get offered another shot at it, another year to achieve things and to make special memories with a group of people that you won't do any more with after you stop, yeah, it's a pretty easy decision.
Had Cian Healy opted to sign elsewhere a decade ago, it would have brought him time with Leinster and Ireland to a premature end. Considering the way his career has played out since that point, you get the sense that he has no regrets about the decision he made at that time.
By the time he does hang up his boots, he is going to go down as one of the greatest Irish rugby players of all-time.
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