Leinster Rugby can today announce the immediate retirements due to injury of two great servants for Leinster and Irish rugby; hooker John Fogarty (concussion) and prop Ronan McCormack (neck).

Leinster Chief Executive Mick Dawson commented: “It is regrettable that both players are retiring due to injury. Both John and Ronan are immensely popular and talented individuals who each played a significant role in Leinster’s recent on-field success.

“John joined Leinster in 2008 and has been a key figure for our province since that time, with his consistent form culminating in his first Ireland call-up on this year’s summer tour to New Zealand. A Heineken Cup winner, John represented Munster, Connacht and Leinster playing 165 matches over a career which spanned a decade.

“Capped on nine occasions for Ireland ‘A’, Ronan was a key member of Leinster’s Heineken Cup and Magners League winning sides and was a consistent contributor during the 118 matches he amassed playing for Leinster, Connacht and Ulster. Ronan too can look back on his career with enormous pride and satisfaction.

“I would like to thank both players for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and service to the game of rugby in Ireland. Everybody in Leinster Rugby wishes both John and Ronan and their families well in their future.”

Name: John Fogarty

DOB: 18th October 1977

Birthplace: Cork (raised Tipperary)

Height: 1.78 m (5′ 10″)

Weight:102 kg (16 st 0 lb)

Position: Hooker

Club: De la Salle Palmerston

School: Rockwell College

Leinster Caps: 44 (2 tries)

Leinster ‘A’ Caps: 3 (v Saracens, Bristol, Munster)

British & Irish Cup Caps:1 (v Plymouth Albion)

Ireland Cap: 1 (v New Zealand)

Ireland ‘A’ Caps: 12 (3 as captain)

Connacht Caps: 110 (83 Magners League, 27 Challenge Cup)

Munster Caps: 11

Name: Ronan McCormack

DOB: 27th April 1977

Birthplace:Dublin

Height:1.78 m (5′ 10″)

Weight:115 kg (18 st 0 lb)

Position: Prop

Club: UCD RFC

School: St. Mary’s College, Rathmines

Leinster Caps: 52 (3 tries)

Leinster ‘A’ Caps:12 (v Oxford, Ulster x2, Ireland Under-20, Connacht x2, Crawshays, Munster x3, Enisei STM, Edinburgh)

British & Irish Cup Caps: 5 (v Plymouth Albion, Cornish Pirates, Exeter Chiefs, Newport, Gael Force)

Ireland ‘A’ Caps:9

Ireland Universities Caps:12

Ireland Schools Caps:4

Leinster Under 19/20 Caps:7

Leinster Schools Caps:3

Connacht Caps: 28

Ulster Caps: 38 (32 CL, 6 HC)