Toner aiming to retire with silverware
By Daire Walsh
Devin Toner said he is excited for what the future holds after the towering Leinster second row announced he is to retire from professional rugby at the end of the current season.
A debutant against the now-defunct Border Reivers in January 2006, the Meath native has won 12 major titles with the eastern province and surpassed Gordon D’Arcy last year to become the most-capped player in their history.
He was also part of three Six Nations Championship successes with Ireland (2014, 2015 and 2018), picking up his 70th senior cap against England in February 2020.
He revealed he is set to leave sport behind completely for a venture into the financial sector, while also dedicating more time to family life.
“It’s exciting, I suppose. I think I’ve probably known about it for a while now. I think obviously with Covid over the last two years, or last year’s contracting cycle, I think I got a contract by the skin of my teeth for this year! I kind of always had it in the back of my mind that it was probably going to be my last year,” Toner explained.
“People were asking me would I coach? I don’t think so. I have never seen myself as a bit of a coach. I have to give back to my family. The sacrifices they go through in my professional rugby career is phenomenal and I think being a coach is probably worse than being a player.
“They are in the office for longer hours and they don’t get any days off. I’m doing the QFAs at the minute, so I’ll be in the finance world. I’ll be releasing what I’ll be doing in the next month or two.”
Despite the ever intense competition for places, Toner has still managed 10 appearances for Leinster this season. While he acknowledged opportunities may be limited, he will be doing everything he can to aid their hunt for silverware in the next few months.
“I was asked why would I want to do it now and I’m kind of like ‘I wanted to get it out of the way’. I realised there’s obviously a lot more rugby to play this year. I didn’t want there to be any distractions at the end of the year.
“I’m going to try and add value where I can or when Leo [Cullen] wants me. I know there’s a good few young lads knocking on the door this year. Hopefully I’ll be a part of it.”
Having worked alongside him as either a team-mate or a coach since rejoining the province from Leicester in 2007, Leo Cullen is better placed than most to extol the virtues of Toner. He remembers initially being taken aback by his 6’11 frame, but is full of admiration for the way he subsequently adapted to the professional game.
“When you see him first it’s like ‘Bloody hell look at the size of your man.’ Irish people come up to people and do that and I’ve had that experience, but then I did it with Dev! He’s just a different level of size,” acknowledged Cullen, who also said he was optimistic James Ryan would return from his latest head injury before the end of the season.
“He’s an unusual shape and for him to develop into his body was going to take a bit of time. He has good subtle skills for someone his size. Over time, he has developed much more competitive instincts because the environment shapes you really. Especially here. He was a pleasure to work with it and the list of achievements is incredible. It’s a phenomenal career really.”