Saying goodbye one last time

OLD habits die hard. Although now officially retired, Keith Wood automatically hauled his weary and slightly hungover body from his bed yesterday morning and headed for the swimming pool for a session with his teammates.

"I thought it was a compulsory swim and I was one of the few players to turn up for it. I was a little confused and don't know whether that was professionalism or pure amateurism."

Wood agreed that he was "very emotional" at the end of Sunday's World Cup defeat by France.

"It didn't hit me until the final whistle but it wasn't an emotional call to retire at that point, it was something that was always going to happen," he claimed. "I didn't sleep all that well. I had a few beers and then a few more and chilled out a good bit so it's a strange feeling this morning. There are a few things you play for. The buzz of pulling on a green jersey and running out on to an international field is irreplaceable. That's something I'll never get used to not having because it's the cornerstone of what I have been about for the last ten years.

"You miss the camaraderie, of messing around with the lads, the craic. We're absolutely obnoxious after being together for two or three months. We speak in our own language. Everything is very odd. It's very hard for our wives and families to figure out what we're saying or doing. You end up bonding so much on these trips. Wood is one of a dying breed who enjoyed the amateur game before turning professional.

Since turning pro he has managed to build up a tidy portfolio off the pitch despite, or maybe because of, suffering an inordinate amount of injury problems. He has no regrets.

"I think I've had the best of both worlds," he says.

"I had an experience of life outside of rugby. It's been a 50-50 split between the amateur and pro game. After Christmas, I have to start like every other guy who finishes playing rugby. I have to start working. I have a few projects on line so I'm going to get my head around those and make sure they actually work.

"Obviously my PR company. I'm trying to weigh up my options. I'll be busy, of that there is no doubt. But I'm going to take time to reflect on that over the next few months. I would imagine for the immediate future, I will live in the UK until Alexander is old enough to go to school in Killaloe.

"My son can do whatever he wants to do," Woody declared.

"If he wants to play rugby, he can play rugby. I recommend that he plays and will be pushing him to do so, but basically it will be whatever he likes to do. It was good for me although I'm not sure my shoulder thinks that but the rest of me does. Rugby is a great game and I've loved every minute. We are the fourth sport in Ireland and permanently trying to recruit from other sports. We just need to focus on a group of players and manage it fully. My belief is that should mean the Irish management, they need to have a stronger view on the professional game."