Shane Horgan retires

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2012/0328/1224314023987.html

Fantastic player and massively underrated by many. Not the quickest player but a huge guy with great feet and hands and a very clever footballer. The modern game was made for him. One of the few players to stand out on the 2005 Lions tour too.

He was in the form of his life before he got injured so its a pity he had to call it a day.

Huge pity he had to give up as his last season was one of his best,went out at the top as a great player for Leinster and Ireland.

Great servant to Leinster and Irish rugby. Sad to hear he has retired, but at least he ended his career playing some of his best rugby!

Think Gatland played him at Centre originally ?? inappropriate but what a great winger for Ireland - and as you said about the only stand-out player on that Lions tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqg5B4XY8-o

Best memories for me were the sublime reverse pass to O'Driscoll last season and the try he scored against England with the go go gadget arm to win the triple crown.

Always liked him as a player, so clever and unorthodox.

Agree completely that he was underrated. Although not overly quick he had a good eye for where the space was. Also, the finest exponents of the overhead catch. Many could do it but he was one of the only players I have known off to do it comfortably at full tilt which made him an excellent target for restarts.
I bumped into him a few times when I lived in Dublin and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Best of luck for the future Shane.

Jeebus forgot the overhand catch! That one against England in 2007 was a cracker!

Ah lads. One of my all time favourite players.

To those who think he was a bit on the slow side, check this out for pace:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edxDBi5f26U

Too many happy memories of Shaggy. What a player, turned restarts into attacking weapons, had an excellent knack of scoring massive tries, just a proper legend of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7HgpvlLFs

If only Scotland's big men in the backs had skills and hands like Shane Horgan.

A top top player. Great hands and although not with particularly good accelaration, a very fast player when at top pace.

Awesome clips there Mickado!

Well, the 'Golden Generation' are certainly jumping off the tailboard now.

A big, rampaging, awkward eejit was what Horgan was in the beginning. More knock-ons than a GAA player in full flight but he just grew, and grew and grew.

He grew so much that I was secretly and sincerely hoping he might return (certainly to Leinster's cause - but also a nostalgic wish that he might reach all the way back to International)

I personally believe he was playing better than any of our International backs before his injury (Bowe included). And I remember being annoyed that he was being, as I saw it, overlooked.

Now he's gone - how time truly flies the older you get! Thanks Shane, for the good times.

Theres a great piece by Quinlan in the IT about Flannery retiring too, about the physical toll of the modern game.

Whats disappointing about Horgan was that he was playing maybe better than ever last season. He was far from a spent force and as you say fly the form winger, maybe back, in the country for a while last year.

Shaggy

Thanks for the memories Shaggy. The best winger Leinster & Ireland ever had. Just so happy he won 2 x HC's with the lads he grew up with, after a long, long wait. So deserved.

I'll miss ya Shagster. You wuz special man.



I think he, like Alan Quinlan - will make a great pundit. So intelligent and perceptive.

I think Leinster should give him a coaching job.

One of the most skillful players Leinster have ever had.

Was watching an interview with BOD and a couple of the squad members, they were watching back some highlight moments in their career and talking about them. BODs try against Brive (where Shaggy throws a blind pass out the backdoor) was one of them. O’Driscoll said that he knew Horgan was one of the only people who could pull off a pass like that so he took the risk and burned outside rather than sitting deeper and waiting to see what would happen.

The pass itself is sheer poetry. That link I posted shows it in nearly pornographic detail. Two defenders taken out and a bonus point secured.

He truly was a Revolutionary Winger – © Leinsterfans.

Spoiler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY8FYwBkq60

He was certainly one of those player that you didn't particularly want to see on the team sheet against you. A very talented player, and he did stand out from the crowd. All the best to him for his retirement.

Mickado wrote:One of the most skillful players Leinster have ever had.

Was watching an interview with BOD and a couple of the squad members, they were watching back some highlight moments in their career and talking about them. BODs try against Brive (where Shaggy throws a blind pass out the backdoor) was one of them. O’Driscoll said that he knew Horgan was one of the only people who could pull off a pass like that so he took the risk and burned outside rather than sitting deeper and waiting to see what would happen.

The pass itself is sheer poetry. That link I posted shows it in nearly pornographic detail. Two defenders taken out and a bonus point secured.

He truly was a Revolutionary Winger – © Leinsterfans.

Spoiler:

Yeah that pass is probably my favourite memory of him.I was in the stand on the opposite side of the pitch in line with the try line.I saw the ball go to Shaggy and he as cut inside I was sure he was going to take the contact and the move would die,I was still watching Horgan waiting to see what would happen at the ruck when all of a sudden BoD was skating down the line to score.I had to see the replay twice before I could figure out what had happened.

My season ticket used to look across the tryline on the grandstand side, that move happened right in front of me. I needed 3 replays to see what happened properly. Harlem Globetrotters stuff.

A true legend of the game, a bit iconic too was always excited when he got the ball.

The go go gadget arm try against England was awesome and so was the cross field kick in 07.

Had some sublime moments in blue and was one of my favourite players, met him a few times and he seemed to be a really down to earth warm hearted guy.

Shaggy we'll miss you buddy

Gutted, lovely fella, great player and he was as good as any of them in an Irish shirt. Would like to see him continue with the RTE work.

This is the one I remember:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DINPoJWOXw4&feature=related

Spilled my beer everywhere.

O' Gara was magnificent and cool on the conversion there. Didn't get carried away in the moment. Made sure England couldn't use a DG or a pen against us to win. Just brilliant.

Ireland were a far superior team then. Got nowhere in the end, but horny to watch.

Not now. Id rather have a wee lie-down.

Nooooooo.

My favourite player. Everybody on the opposing team knew the restart was going in his direction. But nobody could stop him leaping up and grabbing it. A simple part of the game but a huge plus for the team to regather all your restarts.

His tries against England. The stretch armstrong one. The Gaelic style one in Croke Park. I love the pass against Brive. It's not quite clear how he did it when you see it first. Then you see the slow motion replay from the right angle and you just grin. What a pass. That sort of telepathic understanding between BOD and Shaggy can't be trained. They just played together their whole careers. Since they were pups.

Not long ago a Kiwi poster on here was asking me why Shaggy wasn't starting for Ireland. He remembered him from Ireland's summer tests against the All Blacks years ago. He stood out as a big threat to them.

He went to my school. He didn't go to any of the big rugby schools in Dublin. Now there's a big framed picture of him in the school assembly area. Running with the ball for Ireland. And I know loooaaaads of young lads in Louth/Meath area have taken up rugby because they were inspired by Shaggy.

It's a pity injuries ended his career. I've actually never been so upset at a player retiring before. I'll be an emotional wreck when BOD goes. That Leinster/Ireland backline from the mid early/mid 00's is what got me into rugby.

Father time catches up to us all. I echo the sentiments of all, possible the best winger Ireland have had. Have some great memories of him in green

Feckless Rogue wrote:Nooooooo.

My favourite player. Everybody on the opposing team knew the restart was going in his direction. But nobody could stop him leaping up and grabbing it. A simple part of the game but a huge plus for the team to regather all your restarts.

His tries against England. The stretch armstrong one. The Gaelic style one in Croke Park. I love the pass against Brive. It's not quite clear how he did it when you see it first. Then you see the slow motion replay from the right angle and you just grin. What a pass. That sort of telepathic understanding between BOD and Shaggy can't be trained. They just played together their whole careers. Since they were pups.

Not long ago a Kiwi poster on here was asking me why Shaggy wasn't starting for Ireland. He remembered him from Ireland's summer tests against the All Blacks years ago. He stood out as a big threat to them.

He went to my school. He didn't go to any of the big rugby schools in Dublin. Now there's a big framed picture of him in the school assembly area. Running with the ball for Ireland. And I know loooaaaads of young lads in Louth/Meath area have taken up rugby because they were inspired by Shaggy.

It's a pity injuries ended his career. I've actually never been so upset at a player retiring before. I'll be an emotional wreck when BOD goes. That Leinster/Ireland backline from the mid early/mid 00's is what got me into rugby.

Stunning post from the Heart there, Feckless. Lovely stuff man. He was so special. I mean, a Meath man - special? And inspiriing his County, Province and Country in the process? Unreal.

Some really good posts on here - great stories and some really inspiring clips.

Shane Horgan retires

All I can say for that is thank goodness for that.

As we all do as an opposition threat goes away. And you can't celebrate a man better than that.

So long Shaggy.

p.s. Did you hear that Jonny's planning a comeback?


Nah not really .

George Carlin wrote:This is the one I remember:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DINPoJWOXw4&feature=related

Spilled my beer everywhere.

Ah jeebus BOD and Horgan in their pomp, it would bring a tear to your eye watching that. That was amazing, back in the days when we fought till the end and nothing was impossible.

Amazing try and one of Horgans best. What a player.

Thank you and goodbye

I always liked the foot in touch one against England - at least six inches over but amazing what a Scottish touch judge can miss v England

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JONbPmyklN0 - sounds like he manages to cause stuart barnes to have a trouser accident. absolute legend. without doubt one of the most reliable and all round likable players to wear an ireland and leinster shirt .

Croyman wrote:

I always liked the foot in touch one against England - at least six inches over but amazing what a Scottish touch judge can miss v England

Stand out comment there bud. Its saves so much time. Well done.

Great great player for Ireland.

He finished in his best form - way to go.

Go n-eiri an t-adh leis.

What about that try he got against Munster in Musgrave, could be 07 I think. He buried his head and took 2 or 3 defenders with him with a front row drive.

Until BOD retires we havent seen a player who makes so many YouTube highlight reels.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:He was certainly one of those player that you didn't particularly want to see on the team sheet against you. A very talented player, and he did stand out from the crowd. All the best to him for his retirement.

That's exactly how I think of him. A difficult opponent with more skill that at first apparent.
Best wishes to him.

George Carlin wrote:This is the one I remember:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DINPoJWOXw4&feature=related

Spilled my beer everywhere.

Yep...all you can say is legend!
I remember this as one of my most favorite moments of Irish rugby & the celebrations that followed.

Thanks Shane!

I really rated him. Shaggy is a great nickname. He looked awkward but he was so effective in the air and his ranging body made it always worth covering him on the inside as even in the tackle he was able to wrap his arms around and get the offload away. A real shame injury struck him at his peak and prevented a well deserved international recall. Good on ya son.