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2019 Leinster Prevail Over Former Scotland Captain Laidlaw
Announces International Retirement
25th, Ulster In 96-Point Scotland captain
F o r m e r
December Thriller At The RDS Greig confirmed
Laidlaw
has
his international
| retirement.
The 34-year-
EXAMINER old Clermont

scrum-half skip-
pered the side in

IRISH 39 out of his 76
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
a p p e a r a n c e s ,
more times than
any other player,
and is Scotland’s
second-highest
point scorer with
714.
“Emotionally, this decision was incredibly tough howev-
er, when I reflected on what I have learned from playing
Test level rugby and where Scotland is as a national team, it
makes sense,” he said in a statement released by Scotland
Rugby.
Laidlaw is the third Scotland player to announce retire-
ment from international rugby following the World Cup,
along with flanker John Barclay, another former captain,
and wing Tommy Seymour.
Laidlaw, who was included in the British and Irish Lions
hristmas came early Gilroy intercept and number well-weighted kick out to the
to the RDS with a eight Greg Jones, who right was gobbled up and squad for the tour to New Zealand in 2017, admitted it had
Csackful of tries as weighed in with a final-quar- touched down by onrushing been a tough decision.
Leinster crossed eight ter brace before replacement center Henshaw. Byrne land- “Captaining your country to victory is the stuff of child-
times in a 54-42 Guinness Jonny Stewart’s last-minute ed the tough conversion for hood dreams. To say I will never again stand in the tunnel,
PRO14 derby win over score. good measure. filled with nerves, alongside my rugby family and lead my
Ulster. The hosts got off to a fly- Faddes then used a teammates out on to the pitch at Murrayfield, is incredibly
Incoming Ireland head ing start, Kelleher burning up Leinster spill to scamper hard,” he said.
coach Andy Farrell watched the meters on the right wing clear from halfway before “While my body and heart could continue playing, my
on as the Conference A lead- before ever-alert number McFadden replied, with head tells me that it’s time to let the team rebuild.
ers bagged their bonus point eight Deegan managed to Byrne beating two defenders “In terms of where Scotland is now, they are in a position
inside 28 minutes, but Ulster twist out of a double tackle in the build-up. Byrne then to spring forward and I cannot wait to give them my full
recovered from centre Matt to ground the ball. skipped two players with a support from the stands.”
Faddes’ costly sin-binning to Following Byrne’s conver- long pass to put Kearney “To the Scotland coaches and backroom staff over the
score six tries of their own. sion, Ulster piled forward over, four minutes after the years who dedicate hours behind the scenes to prepare the
Max Deegan, a member of thanks to a series of penal- restart. team collectively and as individuals, I thank you.
Farrell’s mid-season squad, ties. Faddes played the per- McFadden’s cross-field “To the people who have helped me achieve my dreams:
Scott Penny (2), Robbie fect link man in midfield, as kick from a penalty picked my team-mates, my parents, sister, family, close friends and
Henshaw and Fergus the ball was shifted wide by out Henshaw, who dished it my incredible wife, Rachel, and our sons, I will be forever
McFadden all touched down Rob Lyttle for Kernohan to off for Kelleher to speed clear thankful for all the support you have shown me over the
to tee up a 33-14 half-time crash over in the left corner. and make it 47-14. years; you have stuck by me through thick and thin.
lead. Faddes ran in an oppor- A classy conversion from Gilroy intercepted a “I’d also like to thank Scottish Rugby and the staff behind
tunist try, adding to Angus Bill Johnston made it seven Penny pass for a rallying 60- the scenes who have both supported me as captain and a
Kernohan’s eighth-minute points apiece, although meter try, but Deegan used a player and enabled the team to perform in front of capacity
effort. Leinster were quick to close-in scrum to reach in crowds.
There were some notable respond. Again Kelleher under the posts. Although “And finally, a massive thanks to the Scotland supporters
names missing from both caused damage out wide, set the result was sewn up with both in Scotland and abroad for sharing the rollercoaster
teamsheets – Ulster’s in par- free by senior debutante Leinster now 12 points clear ride of international rugby with me.”
ticular – but this festive inter- Tommy O’Brien’s pass. at the top of the table, Ulster Laidlaw played three times at the 2019 Rugby World
provincial derby provided 14 Penny burrowed over a few battled on in determined Cup, where Scotland failed to progress through to the
tries and six senior debuts. phases later for Byrne to con- fashion. knockout stage.
20-year-old fly-half Harry vert. They finished with a flour- Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend paid tribute to
Byrne shone for Leinster, The talented openside ish, back-rower Jones grow- Laidlaw’s dedication to the dark blue jersey.
landing seven conversions doubled his tally in the 22nd ing in influence with a well- “Greig has been an outstanding servant for Scottish
and impressing in attack in a minute, driving over from taken double, his second rugby, through the passion and skill he displayed when
man-of-the-match display. close range with Josh score coming from a lineout wearing the thistle on his chest and also on the many occa-
Rob Kearney, Cian Murphy on the latch. The maul. Precise place-kicker sions he led the side,” Townsend said.
Kelleher and Deegan took seven-pointer came after Johnston converted both and “That he began his Scotland career at stand-off before
the victors’ try haul to eight, Faddes had been carded for a topped off Stewart’s smart claiming the number nine jersey shows what an exceptional
yet second-placed Ulster high tackle on O’Brien. finish from a final scrum rugby player he is and was for Scotland and, to be captain on
grabbed a hard-earned bonus Fourteen-man Ulster fell while Leinster lock Josh so many occasions, rightly places him alongside the best
point thanks to a Craig 28-7 behind when Byrne’s Murphy was in the sin-bin. C players to ever led the national team.” C