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Another changing of the guard begins...
By Sea_point April 5 2008
Just weeks after learning of the impending retirement of Australian born legend Matt Mostyn, Connacht Rugby announced the retirement at season end of another Sportsground hero Darren Yapp. Darren arrived in Galway eight years ago from English Premiership side Bristol, and he proved to an extrmely capable player at wing or centre as he amassed 129 appearances despite several bouts of injury.

The following statement was made by Connacht Rugby, to announce the impending retirement of Darren Yapp a long time servant of Connacht in the pro era.

Whilst his appearences and tries have become fewer in the last few season, he will of course be missed by "the faithful".

Many thanks for your efforts in the green jersey Darren, and sure hopefully we will continue to see you at the Sportsground for many years to come in a social capacity..

Long-serving Yapp to retire 

Darren Yapp, one of Connacht’s longest-serving players, has announced he will be retiring at the end of the season. Connacht CEO, Gerry Kelly, paid tribute to the 33-year-old who has played 129 times so far for Connacht.

 “He has been a great servant to Connacht over the past eight years and we will be sorry to see him go. He enjoyed some great highlights down through the years and his hat-trick of tries in the Celtic Cup semi-final against Edinburgh will long be remembered. Darren has been with us as the professional game developed and I would like to thank him for his great contribution down through the years,” said the Connacht CEO. Yapp, who was drafted into the side by coach Steph Nel in 2000 and who has captained the side on five occasions, follows in the footsteps of Matt Mostyn who will also retire at the end of the current campaign.  “I've had eleven great years of professional rugby and have been proud to have been with Connacht for eight of those years. It has been a great experience and a great place to work and I will miss it when I retire at the end of the season. It has been a fantastic place to work and it's been great to be a part of professional rugby during a time when the sport has grown to a point where its profile has reached such great heights, however I feel like it's the right time to retire,” said Yapp, who made his debut in 2000 against Neath.  

He will step down at the end of the season but hopes to stay involved in the game.  “I'd love to stay involved with a team. I'm not looking at coaching rugby at the moment but it's something I would be interested in further down the line. Over the last year and a half I've been doing a diploma in Health and Physiology which I'll be finishing soon but I'd love to stay involved with rugby to some degree.

 Further to this course I'll be looking to get into sports therapy and massage and am looking forward to still being involved with sport and hopefully that'll be in Galway.”

 

 

 

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