Mostyn and Gleeson call it quits
Matt Mostyn, one of only ten players to play more than 100 games for Connacht, has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.
Matt Mostyn, one of only ten players to play more than 100 games for Connacht, has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.
The 33-year old is in his second spell with Connacht and hopes to finish his career by helping Connacht reach the Heineken Cup for the first time.
“To get into the Heineken Cup has always been on the agenda while I've been with Connacht and if I could help them achieve that in my last few games I'd be absolutely delighted,” said Mostyn.
Mostyn said that it was a difficult decision to end a twelve-year career but he felt it was the correct call at this time.
“Every player knows when their time comes to call it a day,” added the Australian native who won the last of his six Irish caps at the 1999 World Cup..
“Although I'm still enjoying my rugby I just feel that my body is telling me I've had enough and it's time to move onto the next stage of my life.”
Mostyn plans on staying in Galway after his final rugby playing season finishes and has already made plans for life after rugby.
Mostyn's initial career was with the New South Wales (NSW) Waratahs but it really took off when coach Warren Gatland brought him to Connacht from French side Begles Bordeaux in 1999.
He made his full Irish debut against Australia and the highlight of his international career was a hat-trick of tries against Argentina.
Mostyn subsequently moved to Newport in Wales before he rejoined Connacht in 2003 as the province twice reached the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup.
Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly paid tribute to the versatile Mostyn.
“He has been a great servant to Connacht rugby in his two spells with us. On and off the field he has been a role model over the years and I would like to thank him for his contribution,” said Kelly.
Meanwhile, Leinster flanker Keith Gleeson has also announced his retirement from professional rugby effective at the end of the 2007/'08 season.
Gleeson made his senior debut for Leinster in 2001 and since then has gone on to win 115 caps for his province.
In February 2002, he burst onto the international scene when he came on as a substitute in Ireland's Six Nations game against Wales.
He became a consistent member of the Ireland team until the 2004 Six Nations when he broke his arm in the match against Italy. This was followed by a serious leg injury during a training exercise in August of the same year.
Despite being a potentially career ending injury, Gleeson applied himself to making a full recovery and marked his return to the game with an appearance for his club, St. Mary's College, late in the 2004/'05 season.
He went on to reclaim his place in the Leinster senior team and make a further four appearances for his country, bringing his total number of Irish caps to 27.