Leinster Rugby's Rhys Ruddock has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the season. Ruddock, who has been a stalwart for Leinster since his debut in 2009, has accumulated 228 caps for the team. He has also had the honor of captaining both Leinster and the Irish national team. Ruddock's retirement marks the end of a distinguished career for the Dublin-born, Wales-raised back row forward. Ruddock described Leinster as a 'huge part' of his life and said he will 'always treasure' the opportunity to captain the teams. Leinster recently secured a convincing 33-7 victory over Connacht, which took them back to the top of the URC table.
⛈️ The Stormers held on for a thrilling win over the Lions. #STOvLIO ✍️ The match report from the #URC encounter in Cape Town. 👇 https://t.co/brcb4g9upS
REPORT: Lions tamed despite the Stormers losing Angelo Davids to a red card. #URC #STOvLIO #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/9ZCvUKG7V7
REPORT: Edinburgh miss out on URC play-offs after a heavy loss at Benetton. #URC #BENvEDI #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/ch8WYkdBX7
The DHL Stormers scored a late try to snatch a late bonus-point victory over the Lions and secure fifth place in Cape Town on Saturday. @Vodacom #URC https://t.co/9A1n0aCaTR
🟢 BENETTON RUN RIOT AT HOME KNOCKING EDINBURGH OUT OF #URC PLAY-OFF CONTENTION. #BENvEDI https://t.co/esgZVceCcM
⛈️ 14-MAN STORMERS EDGE THE LIONS IN WILD DERBY! #STOvLIO #URC https://t.co/bJc7f1Xtol
⏱️ Half-time: 🟢 Benetton 12-6 Edinburgh 🏰 #BENvEDI 🔢 Follow the #URC action, live. 👉 https://t.co/s5xx2ZGhDM https://t.co/NWuARXeqdD
⏱️ Half-time: ⛈️ Stormers 12-21 Lions 🦁 #STOvLIO 🔢 Follow the #URC action, live 👉 https://t.co/s5xx2ZGhDM https://t.co/ausLZ5hQBl
😤 The Stormers forwards leave their mark early on! #STOvLIO #URC https://t.co/QoQ60reqYJ
⛈️ Stormers v Lions 🦁 #STOvLIO 🟢 Benetton v Edinburgh 🏰 #BENvEDI 🔢 Follow the #URC action, live. 👉 https://t.co/TnVF9uEinx https://t.co/eVgNoJnlY8
⚔️ Johnny Matthews double helps Glasgow avoid Zebre shock. #GLAvZEB ✍️ The report as the Warriors move second before Saturday's games. #URC https://t.co/1pM27A1DWw
REPORT: Leinster hit back from their agonising Champions Cup final loss to put five URC final round tries on Connacht, from Liam Heagney 👨💻 at the RDS. #URC #LEIvCON #IrishRugby #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/e6ibIdKB4G
🔵 LEINSTER BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE AGAINST CONNACHT! #LEIvCON #URC https://t.co/CxGVAsCQXv
F-T: Leinster 33, Connacht 7. A convincing five-try bonus point victory for Leinster which takes them back to the top of the URC table for the time being. Connacht’s hopes of making the play-offs are now over, which is a boost for the Ospreys.
Great to see Rhys Ruddock get that ovation. A seriously hard player who has given everything for Leinster. https://t.co/jD4ryPHISu
⏱️ Half-time in the #URC: ⚔️ Glasgow Warriors 12-16 Zebre 🦓 #GLAvZEB 🔵 Leinster 21-0 Connacht 🟢 #LEIvCON 🔢 Follow the action live. 👉 https://t.co/8PYRTFZMpJ https://t.co/S4XoEt2ZpD
✅ Glasgow Warriors v Zebre #GLAvZEB ✅ Leinster v Connacht #LEIvCON 🔢 Follow the #URC action live. 👉 https://t.co/8PYRTFZMpJ https://t.co/3059HevQH5
⚔️ Scotland stars back from injury for Glasgow Warriors. #GLAvZEB 🔵 Leinster ring the changes for derby against Connacht. #LEIvCON 📋 The teams have been named for Friday's #URC matches. 👇 https://t.co/UjAM5d93WI
Leinster's Rhys Ruddock to retire at end of season https://t.co/y6oXN7UKwG
🗣️ "To have had the opportunity to captain both Leinster and Ireland has been an incredible honour and is something I will always treasure and look back on with pride." 🔵 Leinster legend Rhys Ruddock to retire at end of the season. #URC https://t.co/4qpxiCXuyD
🗣️ "Everyone’s going out swinging and giving their best, especially the Emirates Lions, being in the position that they’re in." #URC ⛈️ Stormers starlet preparing for tough encounter against Lions. https://t.co/2IFmjkPinS
Leinster statement: The confirmed retirement of Rhys Ruddock. #URC #IrishRugby #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/RL8QW9nsHi
Leinster back row Rhys Ruddock has announced that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season: https://t.co/DGNoEeO28Y
Leinster stalwart Rhys Ruddock is to retire at the end of the season. What a fine career the Dublin-born, Wales-raised back row forward has had.
"Leinster has been such a huge part of my life." With 228 Leinster caps to date since his debut in 2009, Rhys Ruddock has announced that he will retire at the end of the season. 💙 Read the full story: https://t.co/RxN8amfWea Thanks for everything, Rhys. 🙌 #FromTheGroundUp https://t.co/sPvOqGut63