Leinster star Conor O'Brien has been forced to retire

Former Leinster Rugby centre Conor O’Brien has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect due to injury.

The 26-year-old Mullingar centre played 24 times for Leinster Rugby since his debut away to Glasgow Warriors in the 2017/18 season.

He made 14 appearances for the club the following season, including a Champions Cup debut, scoring six tries in the process, but since then, unfortunately, a consistent hamstring injury has hampered his progress.

O’Brien last played for Leinster in October of last year against Dragons in the United Rugby Championship, his only appearance of the campaign and he left the club at the end of last season.

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie, O’Brien was grateful for all that he achieved but naturally disappointed with how his career had been cut short.

“It’s a very difficult decision to make or more to the point, a very difficult conversation to have with the medics but over the last few years we left no stone unturned in Leinster Rugby to try to get myself back to where I felt I should be.

“I’d like to wholeheartedly thank my physiotherapist Karl Denvir and the team doctor, Prof John Ryan for all their help.

“There are so many highs as an athlete but definitely there are lows as well and the team off the pitch of doctors and physios are brilliant because they pick us up from our lowest, time and time again. I can’t thank them enough.”