Horgan: I was lucky

Shane Horgan called time on his illustrious playing career yesterday due to injury as team-mates, past and present, hailed his contribution to both Leinster and Irish rugby.

The former British & Irish Lions wing officially announced his retirement with immediate effect at the age of 33, having failed to regain full fitness following surgery on a long-term knee injury.

It is the second premature retirement of an Irish Test player this month, following Grand Slam-winning hooker Jerry Flannery’s decision to call it quits due to injury last week.