Injury forces McInerney to retire

FORMER Ireland U20 lock Conor McInerney has been forced to retire from rugby due to a knee injury.

McInerney, a member of the U20 Grand Slam winning side in 2007, joined Ospreys from Leinster in 2009 and made one appearance off the bench during his first season, against Leeds at the Liberty Stadium.

This season he managed an additional four appearances, three of them starts, the first of which came against away to Newcastle. However he has suffered persisting problems with the articular cartilage of his right knee and has been advised to retire from the sport.