Dempsey announces retirement

Leinster's Girvan Dempsey has announced his retirement from the game at the end of the season.

The Terenure College full-back is in line to make his 175th appearance this weekend as Leinster bid to maintain their position at the top of the Magners League.

He made his debut in September 1996 and he has scored 32 career tries and kicked 35 points to date.

Dempsey joins fellow Ireland internationals Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll and back-row forward Sean O'Brien in the extended panel for Sunday's Magners League clash with Edinburgh at the RDS (KO: 6.15pm) for the first time since February.

The team will be announced on Friday lunchtime.