Irish 'legend' Earls retires from rugby

Keith Earls was hailed by Ireland head coach Andy Farrell as "a true legend" after he confirmed on Tuesday he is retiring from all rugby.

The 36-year-old Ireland and Munster utility back hangs up his boots with 101 caps to his name and having scored 36 tries, second behind Brian O'Driscoll in Ireland's all-time try-scoring chart.

Earls won his 100th cap against England in Dublin in August, leading the team out alongside his three daughters, before marking the occasion with a memorable try.

"Keith Earls is a true legend of Irish rugby and it has been an enormous privilege to work with him over the last seven years," said Farrell in an IRFU statement.

"A gifted and committed outside back, Keith's influence transcends his on-field achievements, of which there were many, both for Munster and Ireland.

"Keith was also a leader and an incredibly positive force and he will be missed."

Earls made his test debut in 2008 and was a key figure in Ireland's 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam and featured in three World Cup campaigns.

His last appearance for Ireland was in the 82-8 thrashing of Romania in their opening match of this World Cup.

"The game of rugby has given me so much and I feel privileged to have represented my home province Munster and Ireland over the course of my career," said Earls.

He said he had "always tried to be a good friend and teammate and give all of myself to the jersey".

WIPED AWAY THE TEARS

"While retirement is never an easy decision, now is the right time and I feel incredibly fortunate to go out on my own terms representing Ireland on the highest stage," he added.

"When I was young I never imagined I would get to represent my country once, never mind 101 times.

"Playing for Ireland meant the world to me and it has been an honour to pull on the jersey and represent our great nation."

Aside from his stellar playing career, Earls has also earned wide praise for his openness about his battle with his mental health with Irish teammate James Ryan describing it as "inspiring."

He revealed in his biography "Fight or Flight: My Life, My Choices" how after years of "negative thinking" and panic attacks he finally went to a psychiatrist in 2013.

He was diagnosed as bipolar and even with treatment he was still in a dark place at the 2015 World Cup, including after the memorable victory over France in their pool match.

"It was all bad stuff, I was genuinely in a brutal place," Earls told "Off The Ball" podcast.

"I had tears in my eyes even walking round the pitch after the match and then I went straight to my cubicle in the dressing room.

"The boys were outside on the pitch cheering as we had hammered France. I could not work out why I was feeling so bad.

"So I wiped away the tears and went back out but, even though I had a beer, I really was in a brutal place."

His last experience with Munster was a triumphant one helping them lift the United Rugby Championship trophy in a surprise win over the Stormers in the final in May in South Africa.

"Earlsie is an icon of Munster and Irish rugby," said Munster head coach Graham Rowntree.

"It's hard to imagine Munster Rugby without Keith Earls and he has given so much to this province."

Earls joins Ireland talisman and captain Johnny Sexton in retiring.

They are unlikely to be the last of the squad to do so after the crushing disappointment of the 28-24 loss to New Zealand in Saturday's enthralling quarterfinal.

Earls's fellow Munster stalwarts and test centurions Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony the most likely candidates.