LEINSTER COACH LEO Cullen has hailed the ‘unique’ achievements of Eoin Reddan after the scrum-half confirmed he will retire after Saturday’s third Test against South Africa.
The pair spent the early part of their careers on opposing sides — with Leinster and Munster, then Leicester and Wasps — before Reddan followed Cullen back to Ireland and helped bring two more Heineken Cups to his adopted province.
“Eoin has been a key figure for Leinster Rugby,” Cullen said in a statement on the club website today.
Cullen didn’t need to point much further than the nine medals Reddan had earned (for winning three Heineken Cups, two Six Nations, two Pro12s, a Premiership and a Challenge Cup) to illustrate the impact the impact the 35-year-old has had on four different teams.
“What he achieved over his whole career representing four clubs and the trophies he won with Wasps, Leinster and Ireland is unique. He was a brilliant athlete and he achieved a huge amount at the very highest level. Hopefully he can finish on a high this weekend which would be a great way to end it all.
Reddan scores the opening try in the 2007 Heineken Cup final. Source: EMPICS Sport
“Eoin will definitely be missed but also the wider Reddan family and his dad Don in particular who rarely missed a Leinster away trip and was always a huge supporter of Eoin and of this team.
“We wish Eoin well in the next chapter of his life and thank him sincerely for his contribution to Leinster.”