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13th July 2022
08:05am BST

Ireland's Michael Bent has a crack at hurling prior during a training session at Carton House in October 2012. (Photo by Sportsfile)[/caption]
"I’m aware that not everyone gets the opportunity to have nine years with a team, especially not one the calibre of Leinster so for that in itself, I’m incredibly grateful. I’ve been lucky enough to play alongside and against some of the greats with a team that has achieved so much. "I’ll always consider Ireland my second home. It’s the birth place of my children and it holds so many memories for me and my family."Bent had expressed his hope to run out in front of sizeable home support before he left Leinster, but there were still Covid-19 restrictions in place so crowds were kept small. He returned to New Zealand with his wife and two children, and with a life-time of memories. Little did he know, then, but he would play one more game. For Ireland. The first week of Ireland's summer tour to New Zealand saw Jeremy Loughman concussed, two minutes into the first game, and Cian Healy carted off with what looked like a bad leg injury. Ed Byrne was sent for, but Bent was in hand and had already been over to catch up with some of his old buddies. The tighthead was out on the pitch, togged out for warm-ups and as a back-up option if any props picked up late knocks, at Eden Park before the First Test. In the end, he was not called on but Ireland did ask Andrew Porter to play the full 80 minutes as Healy's injury was still causing bother. That looked to be that, until Finlay Bealham was not risked as a replacement for Wednesday's 30-24 win over the Maori All Blacks. A year after he retired, Michael Bent was back on the Ireland bench. He got on for the final five minutes, and got a professional rugby farewell in front of 12,000 fans, in Wellington. After making his way off the pitch and up the tunnel, Bent got a lively, soaking welcome back to the Irish dressing room. [caption id="attachment_267150" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Michael Bent gets a rousing welcome back to the dressing room. (Credit: Irish Rugby TV)[/caption]
You can see, even from the short clip, how fondly the veteran prop is regarded, especially by those from Leinster that know him best. James Ryan and Robbie Henshaw were right in there, with James Lowe and Bundee Aki showering him with what he hope was water.
Up on the bench, a beaming Jamison Gibson-Park recorded all the antics on his phone, while Cian Healy was there with a handshake and a few warm words as the din died down.
You can watch the full, behind-the-scenes video below, with the dressing room welcome coming from around 12:35.
Stream the biggest sporting moments with NOW, including all the Test match between Ireland and New Zealand, on Saturday July 16 [from 8:05am].
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