Nestled at the end of the second paragraph of the IRFU’s official statement on Jamie Heaslip’s retirement was the fact that the Leinster No 8 had appeared 95 times for his country and played the full 80 minutes for 72 of them.

IRISH-BORN Aussie Rules legend, Jim Stynes, is in a stable condition after undergoing further treatment for cancer. The Melbourne president had a three-hour surgery yesterday to remove four tumours that were causing severe headaches.

JIM STYNES has given an upbeat update on his health after completing two weeks of radiation, declaring that he hopes to conquer cancer by the end of November.