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The curious case of Darren Cave's premature retirement at the age of only 32

By Neil Best
No13 Darren Cave was Ulster's well respected midfielder for more than a decade (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind

There is no doubt whatsoever that Darren Cave has made a huge contribution to Ulster Rugby over the last decade plus. He may not have been the absolute best player without debate to have worn the 13 jersey – given the likes of Jared Payne have featured during the same period – but he has without question made the greatest contribution.

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So how is it then that Cave comes to announce his retirement at the tender age of 32 and a few days? He has not experienced a career-ending injury, nor has he in any sense dropped off a cliff in terms of form. Only two weekends ago he made his mark in a European Champions Cup quarter-final, with Ulster narrowly losing out to holders and favourites Leinster.

The answer is simple – it’s a peculiar Belfast and Irish rugby thing. If Cave was playing in England he would have the ability to keep playing professionally for a few more years, to move sideways or step down a level. The same is true if he was playing in France. I’m sure he has had offers in those quarters. Similarly had he been an Ulster import, he would have been happy to head closer to home and stay on the field.

But he’s a Belfast – or more accurately Holywood – boy and the prospect of commuting to keep playing or up-routing his family for what may only be one or two seasons understandably maybe didn’t appeal.

In seasons past, Connacht provided the step down or sideways move for many Ulster and Ireland players, but they have raised their game and those opportunities have long gone. Even at Ulster in seasons past, a way would have been found to keep a club legend like Cave involved, but there is no longer budget for sentimentalism.

He is viewed as blocking the progress of up and coming talent, the likes of James Hume and Hayden Hyde, the end-of-season arrival from Harlequins. With Will Addison and Luke Marshall already on the books and Stuart McCloskey seemingly able to play every minute of every match, it was always likely there would be no further swansong for Cave.

Yet, Cave leaves Ravenhill having given the fans some tremendous memories, many of the best on big European occasions. And of course this season isn’t over yet.

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Ulster proved against Leinster that at close to full strength they can go toe to toe with the best club sides around. Ulster fans revelled in the courage and commitment of their team. They lost but the fans felt like winners. Likewise, the criticism of Jacob Stockdale came from outside, not inside the player pool or fan base

The mental exhaustion that was Dublin last Saturday week was always going to inhibit their ability to do an away PRO14 job at Glasgow. Other results didn’t go Ulster’s way either, but things remain firmly in their own hands.

If they box off their fatigue, a win away at Edinburgh will almost certainly put them back in the end of season play-offs where anything could happen. It would be a fitting send off for Cave, and one or two others if Ulster could once again finish the season in the PRO14 knockout mix.

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Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

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Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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