Leinster Captain retires after winning fourth interpro title

Leinster Rugby captain Hannah O'Connor has announced her retirement from Leinster and Irish rugby.

The Leinster captain, who led her team to back-to-back Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship titles yesterday in Belfast, made her announcement to her teammates during the week and confirmed the decision to media after the game.

The 34-year-old has been an ever-present in Leinster blue over the last number of years since making her debut in August 2018 against Ulster Rugby and won 18 caps in total.

Her form in blue was also recognised at international level where she won 21 Irish senior caps.

Unfortunately for O'Connor, her chance to lead the team on the field in Belfast yesterday was denied when she was ruled out of selection by injury.

Paying tribute to her captain, Leinster and Ireland centre, Leah Tarpey spoke about the motivation for the squad heading into the final and in particular doing it for their captain.

"Coming into this game today we just really wanted to do it for Hannah who obviously missed out today.

"I'm just so proud of the whole group that we were able to do it for her."

In O'Connor's absence Molly Boyne lifted the interpro trophy on behalf of the squad and was also effusive in her praise of O'Connor's role on the day and during the week, when it might have been easier to drift into the background.

"There is no one quite like Hannah O'Connor.

"She has been the backbone and the leader of this team over the last few years. Her presence was really felt during this week and then, in turn, the girls really wanted to go out and do this for her and bring it home in her name and she was with us every step of the way.

"She was running water for us, giving us advice, and she was just amazing (all week) and you felt like she was with you out there today as well, even though she wasn't on the pitch.

"She is our inspiration and our role model and I am so glad we could win this for her today."

O'Connor has won four interpro titles with Leinster Rugby, and also won an Energia All-Ireland League title with Blackrock College RFC in 2022.

While she has more recently been known as an all-action back row forward, she also lined out in the number ten jersey and in the centre, and was a very comfortable kicker off the tee.

In 2020, she finished the AIL campaign as the leading points scorer and was named the Player of the Year.

What is astonishing is that she only took up the game six years previously, initially with CYM Terenure RFC, after excelling at other sports, most notably golf, growing up.

She made her full Ireland debut against Wales in November 2019 and won the last of her 21 Irish caps during the 2024 Six Nations campaign.

While O'Connor is stepping away from provincial and national rugby, she did confirm that she would be staying involved with her club, Blackrock College RFC.