Leinster centre Conor O'Brien has been forced to retire because of injury.
O'Brien, 26, featured 24 times for the province, making his debut away to Glasgow in the 2017-18 campaign.
The former Ireland under-20s back made his Champions Cup bow the following season but from that point his career was hampered by a hamstring injury.
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The Mullingar man made his final appearance for Leinster against Dragons in the URC last October - it was his only appearance of the season and he left the province when the campaign ended.
"It’s a very difficult decision to make or more to the point, a very difficult conversation to have with the medics," O'Brien told Leinster.ie.
"But over the last few years we left no stone unturned in Leinster Rugby to try to get myself back to where I felt I should be.
"I’d like to wholeheartedly thank my physiotherapist Karl Denvir and the team doctor, Prof John Ryan for all their help.
"There are so many highs as an athlete but definitely there are lows as well and the team off the pitch of doctors and physios are brilliant because they pick us up from our lowest, time and time again. I can’t thank them enough.
"Of course, I’d love for it to have continued and I was hopeful that maybe with a bit of luck the injuries would heal but they haven’t.
"I was always very conscious of who I was playing for. For Mullingar RFC. For my area. For Westmeath. For the wider province. My family and friends. It really did mean a lot to me and it means a lot to all the players in there.
"It’s a special group, who I know are capable of great things in the seasons to come. I wish them all the best."
O’Brien has a degree in economics from UCD already completed while at Leinster Rugby and is beginning a new chapter with the Dublin-based digital transformation company, Tekenable.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen reacted: "The last few years have been hugely frustrating for Conor and it’s very disappointing the way that it has ended for him.
"I know Conor and our medical team worked incredibly hard and no stone was left unturned but sometimes despite everyone’s best efforts, it doesn’t work out the way we’d all like.
"Conor burst onto the scene a few years ago and made his debut in Glasgow and he is a credit to Mullingar RFC and his family for how he has represented them all over the last few seasons.
"You could see that pride last week when we visited the club as part of our 12 county tour and they speak glowingly of Conor and the regular visits he makes to the club and how great he is with the next generation.
"It’s great to hear that he has his next move sorted and that is a credit to him and how he kept up his education while playing with Leinster.
"We wish Conor all the very best for the future and thank him for his contributions to Leinster rugby."
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