Devin Toner has confirmed that he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.
The second row, who turns 36 in June, made his Leinster debut 16 years ago, and has played 276 times for the province, winning four Heineken Cups, a Challenge Cup, and seven league titles.
He also played 70 times for Ireland, winning three Six Nations titles, and was part of the 2018 Grand Slam team.
"There is never a right time I suppose and you would love to keep playing but I feel very lucky to have had the career that I have had and I am able to leave the sport that I love and the club that I love, in good health and on my own terms," Toner told the Leinster Rugby website.
"I have been around the club for long enough to understand that not everyone is that lucky, and I feel that the time is right now to focus on that next chapter and of course, spending more time with Mary, with Max and with Grace. They, and Mary in particular, have put their lives on hold to enable me to perform and I couldn’t have done it without them. So now it’s about them and us all enjoying more time together."
5 November 2016; Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, left, and Devin Toner celebrate victory after the International rugby match between Ireland and New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago, USA. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
He added: “There have been some special moments with Ireland and the Grand Slam is obviously up there but also maybe the game against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016. Being able to acknowledge my dad so soon after passing was very special to me."
Toner is the most capped Leinster player ever.
"Big Dev has made an immense impact on Leinster and Irish rugby," said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.
"I can still remember Devin when I first saw him play as an Irish Schoolboy against Wales in Donnybrook. What an outstanding career he has gone on to achieve since.
"I have been lucky to have had the opportunity to both play with and coach Devin and he has always been a pleasure to work with. He has been such a well-liked and respected member of the Leinster dressing room and his easy nature has allowed him to forge many strong relationships in the game.
"To have played nearly 350 games for your club and country and to have been part of so much success is testament to Devin’s dedication and consistency in his preparation. And in more recent times Devin has been a great mentor to some of Leinster’s younger players."
𝐀𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 ☘️
70 Ireland caps
3x Six Nations titles
1 Grand Slam #ThankYouDev pic.twitter.com/jx9jFsKhJD— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) March 21, 2022
See Also: Ireland U20s Capture Six Nations Grand Slam After Scotland Demolition Job
