Connacht’s Matt Mostyn has announced he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.

The Australian born Mostyn, who can play as a full-back or on the wing, is now 33 and has decided that this will be his last season, though he has vowed to do all he can to help the province reach The Heineken Cup for the first time before he calls it quits.

Mostyn – who has six Irish caps to his name - is one of only ten players to play for Connacht over 100 times. And before he ends his second tenure on the playing staff, he hopes to be part of the first Connacht side to qualify for The HEC.

"To get into the Heineken Cup has always been on the agenda while I've been with Connacht and if I could help them achieve that in my last few games I'd be absolutely delighted,”  the player told Connacht’s official site.

"Every player knows when their time comes to call it a day. Although I'm still enjoying my rugby I just feel that my body is telling me I've had enough and it's time to move onto the next stage of my life.

"I'd like to stay in Galway with my wife Renee for the foreseeable future. For the past six years I've been studying while I was working.

“I finished my degree in Journalism in 2005 and I'm currently half way through a post graduate in project management so those are areas I'd like to pursue a career in, when I hang up my boots at the end of the season."

Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly was keen to pay tribute to the versatile player, saying: "He has been a great servant to Connacht rugby in his two spells with us.

“On and off the field he has been a role model over the years and I would like to thank him for his contribution," said Kelly.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon