Howe announces retirement

Ulster's Tyrone Howe has announced his retirement at the end of the season.

Howe has won fourteen caps for Ireland and 99 for Ulster, thus far: "I think the injury problems I had early in my career and the enforced three year break from the game mean that I have appreciated and really enjoyed the past six or seven years all the more and I’m extremely grateful for all the fantastic experiences and opportunities that rugby has given me," said Howe.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Ulster Rugby public for not only their personal support and encouragement over the past 14 years but also for their unstinting support of the Ulster Rugby team as a whole".