Master of his own destiny

Jerry Flannery has already moved on with his life. The decision to end a glittering professional rugby career that brought two Heineken Cups for Munster and a Grand Slam with Ireland is one the Limerick hooker is at peace with.

A year ago, when stuck on the sidelines, not playing rugby provoked a bitter reaction in him. Now the realisation that after more than two years of injury problems he must end his dream and it has left the 33-year-old in remarkably philosophical mood.

“It is obviously not something you do lightly but I have been struggling with [the injury] for a while now,” Flannery said. He was announcing his decision to retire on the University of Limerick campus where his life as a professional rugby player has transitioned seamlessly into one as a student in the midst of a masters degree in sports performance.