O’Driscoll leaves team after close friend’s death

The Leinster and Ireland rugby star Brian O’Driscoll was said to have been devastated by the news of his friend’s unexpected death.

RUGBY ace Brian O’Driscoll withdrew from the Irish team which faced the Barbarians in Gloucester last night and returned to Dublin following the unexpected death of a close friend.

The Ireland captain had been expected to lead an Irish XV drawn largely from Leinster and Ulster, with most interest surrounding his new centre partnership alongside the highly rated Luke Fitzgerald.