A native of Ballinacurra, Co Limerick, Mr Kilcoyne (36) called time on a 15-year playing career in May with 56 Ireland caps and 220 Munster caps to his name. He joined nearly 4,000 fellow students attending UL’s autumn graduation ceremony, and it was his third time to don the cap and gown in the university. He was able to complete his diploma fully online, and it was before the World Cup in 2023 that he was inspired to pursue the qualification. Despite having previously obtained a Bachelor of Business Studies in 2012, followed by a MSc in Business Project Management in 2019, it was always all about rugby for a young Mr Kilcoyne. "I was just dead-set on playing for Munster and Ireland – that was my goal,” Mr Kilcoyne said of his long-term goals as a youngster. "I had no interest in college at the start, but my mother wouldn’t let me do the [Munster] Academy unless I finished college. So, it was more about getting through it.” Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 26th Speaking about his decision to pursue the Master’s degree after a few years of competing at the highest level for club and country, Mr Kilcoyne said: ”I went on to play a good few years with Munster and Ireland, and you start to mature a bit and realise that there is a life after sport.” The latter end of his career proved to be some of the most successful of his career having won a Six Nations Grand Slam title with Ireland, coupled with a heroic Munster URC victory. However, as good as those moments felt, Mr Kilcoyne began to look beyond his fast-approaching retirement. “Sport doesn’t last forever, so you’ve got to be thinking of what you’re going to be doing after. No one has it fully figured out, especially when you’re that deep into the sport; but if you can take a bit of time and think of what your life would look like after, and guide yourself to something you think you might be interested in, you’ll dedicate the time to it.” He credited the patience of his lecturers throughout his three sittings at UL with helping him balance the demands of study and professional rugby without letting either slip. “I never missed a day of training, or a match – that just wasn’t feasible; rugby was my number one priority, and it has to be for all athletes at that level,” he said. "But the University completely understood that and worked around me. If I couldn’t make a workshop or an assignment, I could do it at a later date. I wouldn’t have been able to complete all three courses without the lecturers being so accommodating of my timetable.” Before moving on to the next professional adventure, Mr Kilcoyne would like to take some down time first before making any big decisions. “I’m taking a bit of time to figure out exactly what I’m going to do. I have a few ideas – I’m thinking that I might move away for a little bit. I’ve been in Limerick all my life, and I love Limerick,” he said. “But I think change is always good.” “Andy Farrell would often say ‘you have to figure it out yourself’. You can’t be spoon-fed everything.”