'Hard as f***' - McFadden praised by Leinster legends including O'Driscoll and O'Brien
Fergus McFadden has been praised “as one of the hardest players in the game” following the Leinster player’s announcement that he will retire at the end of the season.
After making his debut for the Irish province in September 2007, McFadden was part of the most successful era in Leinster’s history, representing the Irish province 184 times to date.
News of his retirement has seen a host of team-mates take to social media to praise McFadden’s contribution to Leinster rugby across a glittering 13-year career.
“One of the best team mates of them all,” Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll wrote on Twitter.
“Loved playing in the same team as him. Hard as f*** and a mental toughness to live with anyone.”
“One of the hardest players in the game,” McFadden’s former Leinster team-mate Sean O’Brien wrote on Instagram.
Jamie Heaslip, who retired in 2018, said: “One of the most determined, toughest, talented players I’ve had the pleasure to call a teammate. Always wanted this guy on your team.”
On Instagram, Rob Kearney wrote: “So many amazing memories with man – tough as nails on the pitch, always stood up on the big occasions and fair to say the best craic off the field too.”
“Absolutely loved taking the field with this man over the years,” wrote Rhys Ruddock.
“Always know he will have your back, on and off the pitch.”
McFadden confirmed his intention to retire on Sunday, with Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, also a former team-mate of McFadden, also reserving high praise for the versatile back.
“Fergus has been an amazing contributor to lots of great things that have taken place in Leinster and Irish rugby and he’s definitely one of the great characters that we’ve had around in the group,” Cullen said.
Having played in both of Leinster’s Heineken Cup final wins in 2011 and 2012, McFadden missed the 2018 win over Racing after picking up an injury while scoring a try in the semi-final win against Scarlets.
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One of the best teammates, and plenty of @leinsterrugby success built on those shoulder @fergmcfadden pic.twitter.com/4c7g8mekVS
— Gordon D'Arcy (@Gordonwdarcy) May 3, 2020
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McFadden also played in Leinster’s Pro12 final wins in 2013 and 2014.
He won 34 caps for Ireland, scoring 10 tries at Test level, and playing in the 2011 World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
The best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
2 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
3 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
114 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
2 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
3 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
3 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
114 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
4 Go to comments