Cork rugby legend Peter O'Mahony confirms retirement

Cork rugby powerhouse Peter O'Mahony will play his last games for Ireland and Munster in the coming months.

Ireland trio O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray on Thurdsday announced their decision to call time on their illustrious careers in green following the conclusion of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

Former Ireland captain O’Mahony and Healy, Ireland’s current most capped international, will also retire from club rugby at the end of the season, while scrum-half Murray will pursue a playing opportunity abroad following the conclusion of his Munster Rugby contract in July.

SEISMIC

All three players have made seismic contributions to Irish Rugby throughout their careers in green, all reaching the landmark of 100 Test caps for Ireland, winning five Guinness Men’s Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and they will hope to draw the curtain in style at the end of the 2025 Championship.

O’Mahony, aged 35, was outstanding in an 80-minute performance against Wales last weekend, has won 112 caps since making his Test debut against Italy in 2012, last year captaining Ireland to Six Nations glory.

A Munster Schools Senior Cup winner with PBC Cork in 2007, the Munster back row has been an ever-present in green over the last 15 years, featuring at three consecutive Rugby World Cups in 2015, 2019 and 2023, and making consistently invaluable contributions to the successes achieved under Joe Schmidt and, more recently, Andy Farrell.

A key leader on and off the pitch, O’Mahony, who captained the British and Irish Lions in the first Test of their 2017 Tour to New Zealand, has made 193 appearances for Munster having made his debut against Ulster in January 2010 and won two Celtic League/URC titles.

Healy, meanwhile, will hang up his boots as Ireland’s current most capped player having surpassed Brian O’Driscoll when coming off the bench during the 150th Anniversary Test against Australia at Aviva Stadium last November.

The 37-year-old has shown incredible robustness and durability to consistently deliver for his country and establish himself as one Ireland’s best-ever front-row forwards.

Murray has been part of five Six Nations-winning teams and last weekend’s Triple Crown success in Cardiff was his fourth in green, while the 35-year-old also featured for the British and Irish Lions on three Tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021. He has made 199 appearances to date for Munster, winning two Celtic League/URC titles.