RUGBY:JERRY FLANNERY has retired from professional rugby with immediate effect. The 33-year-old has made the decision following a two-year battle with a succession of injuries, primarily calf and back problems, writes John O'Sullivan.

The Limerick-born hooker won the last of his 41 Ireland caps in last September’s World Cup game against the USA. Educated at St Munchin’s College he joined Munster (94 appearances) from Connacht for the 2003/’04 season and broke into the Heineken Cup squad in 2005/’06 playing in all nine games in Munster’s run to the title and while injury curtailed his involvement the following season he was a central figure when Munster won a second European Cup in 2008. He played in four of five matches during Ireland’s Grand Slam (2009) but was forced to withdraw from the Lions tour to South Africa after suffering an elbow injury.

He said: “I’m very sad to have to announce my immediate retirement . . . Since my injury at the 2011 World Cup, I’ve struggled to regain the level of fitness required to play at this level and after consulting with the medical staff at Munster and at Ireland I am announcing my retirement with immediate effect.