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Luke Matthew Fitzgerald (born 13 September 1987) is a former rugby union player. He played at winger or fullback for Leinster Rugby. He retired in June 2016. Having previously studied at Blackrock College he won two Leinster Schools Senior Cups, in 2004 and 2006. He won his first cap for Ireland in November 2006. Fitzgerald earned the nickname "Pivot" from Leinster and Irish rugby fans due to his exciting runs and sidesteps from broken play.
On 28 June 2016, Fitzgerald announced his retirement from professional rugby. He had suffered a neck injury in the 2016 Pro12 Final and had been advised to retire on medical grounds.
In August 2019, Fitzgerald became engaged to long-term girlfriend Aisling Burke.
He was the 2005 Irish Examiner Young Rugby Player of the Year.
After leaving school, Fitzgerald joined renowned south Dublin club Blackrock College RFC, a natural transition from schools to club rugby.
After much public demand Fitzgerald was given a chance in the centre during Ireland's match with the Barbarians. He had a fine game putting in a lot of tackles, notably on Lesley Vainikolo. He was due to earn a second cap in the centre against the All Blacks. His centre partner would have been Brian O'Driscoll. He was forced to withdraw from this match due to an ankle injury. He was a member of the victorious Ireland team that won the 2009 Six Nations Championship and Grand Slam where he played on the wing and started every game.
On 21 April 2009, Fitzgerald was named as a member of the British & Irish Lions for the 2009 tour to South Africa and made his test debut on 27 June against South Africa, during which he was Eye-gouging by Schalk Burger. Burger was yellow-carded for the incident, and was subsequently banned for eight weeks for "making contact with the face in the eye area." He was however cleared of gouging, as his action was found to be "reckless" but not intentional. Fitzgerald believes Burger should have been sent off for gouging his eyes, "I went into the ruck, got cleaned out and felt a hand going for my eyes,"Given the seriousness of the allegations... you would have to say it was probably a red card."
In November 2009, Fitzgerald was injured in Ireland's game against Australia, forcing him out for the rest of the season. He returned from injury at the beginning of the 2010–11 season to start at fullback for Leinster in their first preseason match against London Wasps Rugby Club.
In March 2015, Fitzgerald was named in the starting team for Ireland in the last game of the 2015 Six Nations Championship away to Scotland, his first start since a World Cup warm-up game against France in a 2011 and first game since the defeat to New Zealand in November 2013.
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