Ronan O’Gara, Ireland’s most capped player and top points scorer, announced his retirement from rugby union on Saturday and will take up a coaching role at big-spending French club Racing Metro.
The 36-year-old flyhalf scored 1,083 points in 128 matches for Ireland and won two Test caps across three tours with the British and Irish Lions (2001, ’05 and ’09).
“I have ambitions in the years ahead to coach at a high level and, with this in mind, I can confirm now that I will be joining Racing Metro’s coaching staff in July,” O’Gara wrote in a column in the Irish Examiner newspaper.
Munster, O’Gara’s club side since 1997, said his feat of scoring a record 1,365 points in the European Cup is “unlikely to be surpassed.”
O’Gara played a record 240 games for Munster, helping the province win the European Cup in 2006 and ’08.
He also played a key part in Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning campaign in the Six Nations in 2009, sealing the title with the match-winning drop goal against Wales at Millennium Stadium.
“The news that Ronan O’Gara has decided to retire from playing draws to a close an incredible career in which he established himself as an iconic figure in Irish rugby over the past decade or so,” Irish Rugby Football Union chief executive Philip Browne said.
“Irish rugby will undoubtedly miss his extraordinary talents, but it is pleasing to see him continue his career within the game.”
O’Gara will be the kicking specialist at Racing, whose string of high-profile recruits for next season include Ireland flyhalf Jonathan Sexton and Wales stars Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate.
O’Gara’s tally of Test points leaves him fourth on the all-time list, behind New Zealand’s Dan Carter, England’s Jonny Wilkinson and Neil Jenkins of wales.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Thug and Ted, what people like you seem to forget is that McRae had been targeted by the Lions that game. Both Martin Johnson and Ronan himself had had countless verbal and multiple physical goes at him. Just before the incident Ronan had said something shocking about McRae Mrs then cleared him out of a ruck but ended up on the ground himself...what was Ronans reaction? oh thats right, he kicked McRae. Now I dont know about you but where I am from, Ronan got what was coming to him....Perhaps 11 punches was over the top but lets not forget the facts of the case.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Wow - your mates and you must be great company.
Thug
Guest
Hey SkinnyKid Are you a mate of Macrae by the way ? Macrae will always be tainted by what he did and will never be loved,respected nor admired like many other Tah players Believe me SkinnyBABE I've got over Macrae but we must never allow such behaviour on a Rugby field ever again My mates and I always refer to his boorish behaviour when we see his smug face on a betting advert
LionRampant
Guest
Aye, a class act. I'm sure he'll be on the coaching circuit for a good while, so we'll see him again. EVERY player is limited, by the way. By age, apart from anything else. O'Gara was/is a class game-managing stand-off, which pretty much suited Munster & Ireland for many a year. Great kicker. He could flip the ball out the line too as proved by his role in the new-look Munster.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Many many a time.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
It was 12 years ago...get over it.
dadiggle
Guest
He was almost choked to death as well
Derm
Roar Guru
Great player for Munster and Ireland. Triple Crowns, and won Ireland the Grand Slam in 2009 Celtic league titles and 2 Heineken cups for Munster ERC Player of the Heineken Cup over 15 years He has plenty to be proud of. Hump the begrudgers.
Thug
Guest
Are you now justifying what Macrae did. Forget who disliked Ronan the fact is that Macrae is a thug and such behaviour should not be countenanced on a sport field
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Really? still going on about McRae 12 years on? Everyone knows there was more to the story than a random act of violence and McRae is one of a long line of blokes that wanted to do that to O'Gara...he just over reacted on it.
dadiggle
Guest
South Africa's favorite son. Thanks for 99 ROG
Jerry
Guest
Good, but limited player. Made the most out of what he had though.
Parisien
Guest
ole blue eyes - a very good player in a very good period for Irish rugby.
Ted
Guest
I wonder what that thug Duncan Macrae will be thinking after having punched Ronan in the face eleven times on the previous Lions tour ?? I think that whilst the latter was a great place kicker he lacked the genius of a Carter,Larkham ,Merhtens or Ella and was a bit pedestrian .
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
well done Ronan. A great servant to Irish Rugby. Never rated him that highly as a test level 10 but still a solid player.