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Player of the Month is between Cooney, Heenan and Marmion
Personally I can't believe James Cannon isn't a nominee as he'd get my vote - he has been brilliant the past month

salmson wrote:

Code:

RonanL wrote: What was Frank Murphy's injury?

He had persistent knee issues but was released rather than retired. Amended above (Finn also).

Cheers. I mainly asked because he seems to be running around the place as a ref no problem, arguably taking as much contact as he did when he was playing

RonanL wrote: What was Frank Murphy's injury?

He had persistent knee issues but was released rather than retired. Amended above (Finn also).

Peter McCabe starting for Munster at the weekend , I assume that his extremely short term loan for cover is over so.

What was Frank Murphy's injury?

Conor Finn didn't retire, he's playing for Terenure.

I wouldn't include Clarke in that list, he's three years gone and arrived with concussion issues. 3 career ending concussions in one season is unusually high but it being that (a) we have one such season and (b) nothing to compare it against since concussions weren't properly managed in rugby in the past, you can't really take anything out of it. I did wonder if we have a larger than normal number of players retiring out of injury but Pat Lam's first season was worse.

Retired prematurely due to injury:
16/17 White, McSharry, Marshall.
15/16 [strike]Conor Finn[/strike]. No injury retirements.
14/15 Sean Henry.
13/14 Brett Wilkinson, Craig Clarke, [strike]Frank Murphy[/strike], Paul O'Donohoe, Kyle Tonetti.

I don't think too many people will be surprised by this sad news. But that does not make things any easier for him. We rant and rave about new managers this, Sports Ground developments that, (myself included) and this is the grim reality facing professional athletes. Careers can be so fleeting and gone in an instant. I hope it works out for the guy I really do.

That's terrible news but we all expected it. Tough year for concussion retirements.

Awful news. Very promising player

Podge57 wrote: How many "recent" Connacht retirees is that due to concussion?

Dave McSharry
Craig Clarke
Ben Marshall
?

Just wondering are we impacted more than any other squad or is this consistent with others!

Tough on the guy - would have loved to see more of him - hope it all works out ok for him in the future.

Nathan White too.

How many "recent" Connacht retirees is that due to concussion?

Dave McSharry
Craig Clarke
Ben Marshall
?

Just wondering are we impacted more than any other squad or is this consistent with others!

Tough on the guy - would have loved to see more of him - hope it all works out ok for him in the future.

Very sad news, especially for a man so young. Never got a chance to show us what he was made of. Best of luck to him moving forward.

Ben Marshall forced to retire.

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Sad for the guy.

Ben Marshall retires from rugby
31st January 2017

Connacht Rugby and the IRFU have today announced that Connacht player Ben Marshall is to retire from professional rugby based on medical advice following a concussion injury.

The 26-year-old second row-cum-back row forward joined Connacht Rugby at the start of the 2015/16 season. He was unfortunate with injuries during that campaign meaning his game time was limited to five appearances. He scored his first try at the Sportsground in the European Challenge Cup win over French side Brive in November 2015.

A former St Andrew’s College schoolboy, Marshall graduated from the Leinster Academy and went on to make 20 appearances for their senior side before taking up the opportunity to come to Connacht.

Having played ten times for Ireland Under-20’s, Marshall was capped for an Ireland XV team that came up against the Barbarians in May 2015. He then went on to play for the Emerging Ireland side that took on Italy, Uruguay and Georgia in the 2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup.

Speaking on the news Ben said:

“Unfortunately, my time as a player has come to an end earlier than I would have wished. It has been a difficult time not being able to play since the injury but having had some time away from the game, I can appreciate how fortunate I’ve also been in my career.

“Special thanks have to be extended to my teammates and friends, from schoolboy through to professional level. We have shared many highlights that I will carry with me for years to come, and it is the quiet camaraderie of the dressing room that I will miss the most.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Connacht head physio Garrett Coughlan and the medical team who have given me wonderful care and support over the past eleven months.

“I am looking forward to continuing in my financial studies and the new career path that is ahead of me, but I will always be appreciative of the lessons that Willie (Ruane) and Pat (Lam) taught me during my time at Connacht Rugby.”

Head Coach Pat Lam added:

“Ben was unfortunate through injury during his time at Connacht Rugby but we always saw his professional attitude shine through on and off the pitch. He is an excellent team man who has achieved a lot in the game from a very young age and I have no doubt that he will go on to achieve great things in his business and life pursuits going forward. He will have a support system and friends for life from his time in rugby and we wish him well for the future.”

RonanL wrote: Darragh Leader seems to be close to a comeback. Could be good timing with Tiernan in Ireland camp. When was his last game? I know it's been a while, so he'll need to get some game time under his belt, but I'd love to see him breaking back into the team. His boot alone was a real asset when we were looking to clear our lines.

Look forward to Darraghs return. Wonder how he will react to such a long layoff. It has to be a worry for him seeing the likes of Ili and Kelleher bought in, never mind TOH taking over the FB position. It has to play on Darraghs brain. I hope he works through all this. A fine player