TRIMBLE BOWS OUT AFTER TOUGHEST CALL
ULSTER’S most capped player Andrew Trimble says he has made ‘the toughest decision for any sportsman’ by deciding to retire from rugby at the end of the season. The 33-year-old Coleraine man has played 229 times for his province in a career dating back to 2005 and was part of the last Ulster side to win a trophy, when Mark McCall led them to the 2006 Celtic League title. Although he played regularly in the centre in his early days, Trimble was best known as a hardrunning, physical winger and an excellent finisher, scoring 77 tries for Ulster and 17 for Ireland over the course of his 70 caps. He was also renowned for his professionalism and dedication to his physical fitness and preparation although he endured his share of injuries over the years, experiencing foot tendon, hamstring and hand issues in recent seasons that limited his appearances. Trimble made his debut for Ireland under Eddie O’Sullivan in 2005 against Australia and played in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. While he did not feature in the team that landed the Grand Slam in 2009, Trimble became a regular starter under Joe Schmidt and played all five games when Ireland won the Six Nations title in 2014, scoring a try in the decisive win over France at the Stade de France. Trimble also had the distinction of starting in Ireland’s first win over the Springboks in South Africa and first win over New Zealand in 2016. His last appearance for Ireland came in the victory over France in last year’s Six Nations at Lansdowne Road but he still had an influence in this year’s Grand Slam, serving as mentor to his Ulster colleague Jacob Stockdale, the Six Nations player of the tournament citing Trimble as one of his heroes growing up. A hugely popular figure with fellow players, coaches, supporters and media, Trimble announced his retirement yesterday and said in an open letter to supporters: ‘I know that I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have realised not one of my dreams, but two of them; to play for Ulster and to play for Ireland. But there’s no way of stopping time — and I see that each day in the lives of my two young children, who are now close to beating me over five metres. ‘I want to thank the club for allowing me the time before making what is probably the toughest decision that any professional sportsman will make. ‘Most of all, I want to thank the loyal and dedicated supporters of this special club. You stood up for me; I only hope that I stood up for you.’