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06 Sept 2025

Former Irish International Rugby player announces retirement

Former Irish International Rugby player announces retirement

Ian Madigan of Ulster during the URC match between Ulster and Edinburgh | PICTURE: Sportsfile

FORMER Irish rugby star, Ian Madigan, has announced his retirement from the sport in an emotional Instagram post. 

In the post the No.10 mentioned where he began his career at Old Belvedere mini rugby being coached by his father while also playing GAA for Kilmacud Crokes.

He also mentions St.Brigids primary national school where Olympian Jerry Kiernan had Ian well prepared for the pressures he would face as rugby got more serious for him.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ian Madigan (@ian.madigan)

Madigan began his professional rugby career with home province Leinster in 2009 where he made 147 appearances before moving to Bordeaux and then Bristol Bears and finally returning to Ireland to play with Ulster for the remainder of his career. 

During this time Ian was also drafted into the Irish rugby squad after an injury to Johnny Sexton in 2013. For the next three years he made 31 appearances for the country scoring 121 points. 

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