RUGBY:Prop Darragh Hurley has been forced to call time on his career because of a persistent back injury. The 26-year-old Munster player, who made his debut in 2006, did not play this season.

The Kinsale native, mainly a loosehead prop, has had to retire because of a lower back injury. He is the latest Munster player forced to retire this season through injury following Denis Leamy’s announcement this week and Jerry Flannery and David Wallace in recent months.

Hurley, who was capped by Ireland A, featured for the Irish schools and worked his way through the Munster Academy, having come through from Cork Con. He made 11 appearances in his debut season but was hampered by injury and made just another 25 before yesterday announcing his retirement.