Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery (33) has today announced his retirement from rugby.
One of the great frustrations of being a Munster and/or Ireland supporter in recent seasons has been Flannery’s perennial struggles to regain fitness. Elbow and calf injuries have plagued him since the 2009 season, but after recovering from those through extensive rehabilitation, a back problem has brought a pre-mature end to his playing days.
Flannery twice won the Heineken Cup with Munster and was an integral part of the front row that won Ireland’s Grand Slam of 2009. It’s a genuine shame bad luck with injuries deprived him of so much playing time because when fit, he was a huge addition to whatever team he was lining out for. And he also has wonderful hair, which evidently required a lot of time spent on it.
And he was obviously rather combative. Here he is having a brief and not entirely polite exchange of views with Steve Thompson:
Jerry, thanks for everything. The Irish rugby scene will be a lot less entertaining without you.
