Munster prop Oli Jager has been forced to retire from professional rugby with immediate effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In an announcement shared on the club website, Jager said: \u201cIt is with a very heavy heart that I share that I have been advised to medically retire from rugby.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying professional rugby for the last 10 years has been nothing short of a privilege.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of my journey \u2014 my coaches, teammates, medical and rugby staff, supporters, friends, and family. Each of you has helped shape me not only as a player but as a person.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this chapter comes to an end, I look back with immense pride and gratitude for the experiences, memories, and relationships the game has given me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho knows what the next chapter holds, but I\u2019m excited to see what it has in store.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andy Farrell forced to make changes as key Ireland duo out of Nations Championship<\/a><\/p>\n A journey from the north to the south, and back<\/p>\n Born in London, Jager started his rugby journey at Naas RFC, before moving to Ireland<\/a> and playing school rugby at Newbridge College and later Blackrock College.<\/p>\n Appearing for both Ireland U18 Schools and the Netherlands U18s, he then moved to New Zealand to continue his rugby education. He then attended the Crusaders International High Performance Unit in Canterbury, earning a place in the Academy in 2014.<\/p>\n After winning NPC titles in 2016 and 2017, Jager eventually made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders in 2017 and became a key member of their squad for seven years, winning a record seven consecutive Super Rugby titles and being selected twice for the All Blacks XV under head coach Clayton McMillan.<\/p>\n Jager joined Munster from the Crusaders<\/a> in November 2023 and immediately established himself as a vital squad member, making his debut against Glasgow in December 2023 and appearing for Ireland for the first time against Wales in the Six Nations in February 2024.<\/p>\n Springboks player ratings: Cheslin Kolbe\u2019s mixed bag, Junior Bok captain shines as Edwill van der Merwe scores three<\/a><\/p>\n A popular member<\/p>\n McMillan, who is now Munster\u2019s head coach spoke fondly of his departing man.<\/p>\n \u201cOli is a hugely respected and popular member of our squad, and he can take great pride in everything he has achieved in the game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a lot of admiration for how he earned his stripes as a rugby player, taking a chance as a teenager and moving across the world to New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing story really, how he earned a contract at one of the biggest club sides in the world at Crusaders and played such a key role in their success.<\/p>\n