Long-serving Munster Rugby hooker to call time on career at end of the season

MUNSTER Rugby hooker Niall Scannell has today, Tuesday, announced that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season after making a huge contribution to the province over the past 13 years.

The 33-year-old is Munster’s most-capped hooker of all-time and one of just 17 players to have made 200 or more appearances for Munster Rugby.

To date, he has made 208 appearances for Munster, scoring 23 tries.

On the international stage, he earned 20 Ireland caps and featured in four games at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Announcing the news, Niall Scannell said: “It’s been a dream journey but the time has come to hang up the boots. I’m finishing this chapter with nothing but gratitude. I’m honoured to have been able to play my whole professional career with my home club, with some of my best friends, my brother and my cousin.

"It has been a dream come true to represent Munster as many times as I have and it was a particular highlight to be able to represent my country.

“The support I have received throughout my career made it all possible. In particular I’d like to thank all those at PBC Cork and Dolphin RFC who helped me excel into the professional game.

“To my parents Bill and Emer that have done everything possible to support all of us in whatever passion we chose.Without all their love and encouragement this would never have been possible.

"I’d especially like to thank my wife Maeve. It’s only because of her unwavering love, support and sacrifices that I could have made my career possible. For that I will always be grateful. Now it is time to give back to my family and spend more time with my two little boys.

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“Finally, to the best fans in the world. I’ve had so many special days in a Munster jersey and they were made special by you. It was a privilege.

“I am excited to discover what the next chapter holds but for now it’s back to work and finish this season strong.”

Head Coach Clayton McMillan said: “Playing at the highest level in such an attritional position is a fantastic achievement and Niall will have a big role to play in his final months at the club.

“He is one of the leaders in our group and makes a massive contribution on and off the field.

“He takes great pride in representing his home province and he’s one of those players you can always rely on.

“It’s pretty unique to have two brothers play 200-plus games for the same club and I was delighted to see him follow his brother Rory in reaching the special landmark this season.

“We will celebrate his great career at the end of the season but thankfully there is a long way to go yet and I know Niall is determined to finish on a high.”

Scannell joined the Munster Rugby Academy in 2011 after captaining PBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title in 2010.

He captained the Ireland U20s at the 2012 Junior World Championships in South Africa and made his British and Irish Cup debut for Munster A in January 2013.

2015/16 proved to be a breakthrough season as he made 23 appearances, starting 10 games for a total of 753 minutes of senior rugby, including a European debut against Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park.

Joined by his brother Rory in the starting line-up, the Scannells become the first set of brothers to start for Munster in the PRO12 in the December 2015 clash away to Dragons at Rodney Parade.

He continued to flourish in 2016/17, making 26 Munster appearances and earning an Ireland debut as a starter in the 6 Nations clash with Italy in Rome before featuring in the remaining four games.

His good form earned Scannell a nomination for Munster Rugby Player of the Year at the 2017 Awards.

Included in the Ireland side for the Summer Tour to the USA and Japan, he played all three Tests and scored his first international try against the USA. In that same Test, he and younger brother Rory became the first Munster brothers to wear Irish jerseys together on the international stage in the professional era.

Finished the 2017/18 season with 24 appearances to his name before impressing on Ireland’s victorious Summer Series victory over Australia.

Scannell was included in the Ireland Rugby World Cup squad that travelled to Japan in 2019 and featured in four games.

A popular squad member and leader, Scannell first captained Munster against Zebre in February 2020 with the team also including younger brother Rory and cousin Jack O'Sullivan.

An excellent 2022/23 campaign was capped off with the URC title as Niall made 22 appearances over the season (15 starts).

He made 14 appearances during the 2023/24 campaign, starting at hooker for the URC quarter and semi-finals.

Last season saw Scannell make his second-highest appearances in a single season as he racked up 24 appearances (14 starts).

An invaluable member of the squad for over a decade, Scannell has made 192 appearances over the past 10 years.

So far this season, Scannell has made nine appearances and reached his landmark 200th cap away to Scarlets in the URC opener.