Retiring Munster stalwart Ronan prepares for new chapter

As Munster players plan their holidays and how to pass the time during the off-season, Niall Ronan is working out what life will be like as a former professional rugby player.

The 32-year-old former Irish international flanker’s career came to a premature end due to a seemingly innocuous knee injury sustained at a Munster training session before a Heineken Cup game with Gloucester at Thomond Park last October

Ronan, who plans to launch a sports-related strength and conditioning consultancy in his native Meath, battled to return to fitness for the past six months. But it slowly became evident there was going to be no return.