Sad day for Irish rugby as Wallace forced to quit

Glowing tributes have been paid to David Wallace, the iconic Munster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions flanker who has called time on a glittering professional career that spanned 16 seasons.

The 35-year-old played his last game as a late substitute in Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Ulster — his 203rd cap — having negotiated a comeback with game-time in a RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Aironi and Connacht, before realising the long-term knee injury was proving too restrictive.

The news has come as a big blow to Munster and it’s also bad news for national coach Declan Kidney who might have done with Wallace’s experience for Ireland’s three-match tour to New Zealand next month.