Keith Earls, just the ninth player in Ireland history to win 100 Test caps, has called time on his storied career following his country’s World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of New Zealand.
Making his debut in November 2008 against Canada at his beloved Thomond Park, British & Irish Lion #754 joined the exclusive 100 club in the 2023 Summer Nations Series clash with England.
He retires as Ireland’s second-highest try scorer with 36, behind only Brian O’Driscoll, and was also part of the 2009 British & Irish Lions squad for the Tour of South Africa.
Here is a look back at the moments that made the 36-year-old’s career.
A successful breakthrough with Munster
On 20 April 2007, Keith Earls made his debut for Munster in a 20-12 defeat to Ospreys, coming on with 15 minutes remaining at Liberty Stadium.
Quickly he made an impression and found himself a regular member of the squad throughout the rest of the season and into the following year, where Munster would go on to win the 2008 Heineken Cup final, a match in which Earls was an unused substitute.
Clearly trusted, Earls made a proper splash the following season, scoring eight tries for the province in the 2008/09 Magners League, helping Munster to win the title.
Lions selection
That form, combined with a flying start to Test match rugby for Ireland, saw Earls named in The British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa in 2009, aged just 21.
Earls had a big impact in the midweek side, playing against South African Royal XV, Free State Cheetahs, Western Province, Southern Kings and Emerging Springboks.
Against both Free State Cheetahs and Emerging Springboks he scored impressive and crucial tries but was unable to make it into Sir Ian McGeechan’s Test side.
Grand Slam glory and All Blacks history
Now an established international, Earls enjoyed a 2018 of dreams which would subsequently see him named as Player’s Player of the Year at the Rugby Players Ireland awards.
Though he was named in the 2009 Six Nations squad, Earls did not a play as Ireland won their first Grand Slam in 61 years, but he was a key protagonist in 2018 when Joe Schmidt’s team lifted just the third Grand Slam title in their entire history.
Earls started all five matches at right wing, scoring a try in the 56-19 win over Italy in Round 2, as Ireland sealed the Grand Slam in style at Twickenham.
Earls and Ireland were not done there though, defeating Australia in June for their first series win Down Under since 1979, before an historic 16-9 triumph over New Zealand in Dublin – their first ever victory over the All Blacks in the Irish capital.
More history made in New Zealand
A few years later and Earls would be celebrating more glory over New Zealand in Irish colours in 2022.
He started on the wing in the sole Test defeat on tour, scoring in the 42-19 loss at Eden Park as New Zealand took a 1-0 lead.
He was then Earls named captain in the impressive 30-24 win over New Zealand Maori – the first time he had captained his country.
He was then recalled to the Test squad and came on as a substitute as Ireland claimed a 32-22 victory in Wellington to make yet more history and win a first ever series in New Zealand 2-1.
Joining the 200 club
The following season proved to be a frustrating one for Earls, as repeated hamstring injuries limited him to just five matches by mid-April, missing both the Autumn Nations Series and Guinness Six Nations.
He made his return to the Munster team in a 26-24 win over the Stormers, before making his 200th appearance for the province the following week, as they drew with the Sharks at King’s Park, becoming just the 14th player to reach such an accolade.
Those results sealed a United Rugby Championship quarter-final spot and, though Earls missed the 14-5 quarter-final victory over Glasgow Warriors, he played a full 80 minutes in the semi-final triumph, which saw Munster defeat Leinster 16-15.
A fortnight later, he came on as a replacement to lift his third league title when defeating the Stormers 19-14.
