Tommy Bowe will forever be one of the players who will be synonymous with Ireland's historic Six Nations Grand Slam triumph in 2009.
Time waits for no sportsperson and today, the Ulster wing signaled the impending end to his career at the end of the season.
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Former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan, who gave him his Irish debut, and his former provincial and international team-mate Stephen Ferris joined us on Monday Night Rugby and both paid tribute to the retiring Bowe.
"I gave him his first cap in 2004 when he came in against the USA and he probably felt hard done by in '07 not making the World Cup squad that time but it was a tough call at the time and it was pretty close," said Eddie.
Eddie O'Sullivan gave @TommyBowe14 his Ireland debut and paid tribute to one of the standout players to have worn the green jersey #OTB pic.twitter.com/5Su8D1IDfP
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) January 15, 2018
"The back-end of his career, he really matured and in '09 he was crucial. I thought the try in Cardiff, the famous try won the Grand Slam in many ways. That was the turning point in the game. The dynamics in that game, Ireland were struggling to find their mojo in the game and that cross-kick that he hit on the full and went straight down the middle of the field and scored, that's one of the greats of Irish rugby."
ðŸ‰@StephenFerris6 battled alongside @TommyBowe14 for @IrishRugby and @UlsterRugby and reflected on his "tremendous career" #OTB pic.twitter.com/7mjmvQzSeu
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) January 15, 2018
Ferris also spoke warmly of his former colleague.
"I think everyone would agree the career that he had was tremendous in an Ulster jersey and for Ireland," he said.
"Congratulations on a great career. He's been fantastic for Ireland for years."
