Irish Rugby : Provincial Rugby : News : Exiles Galore In Green This Weekend

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne has issued a statement following confirmation of Ronan O'Gara's decision to retire from playing professional rugby.

Ronan O'Gara's retirement from professional rugby brings to an end an achievement-packed career that saw him dominate matches in Ireland and around the world in the colours of Cork Constitution, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions.

IRFU provincial and national age grade coaches - Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-20s - and IRFU elite player development staff from the four provinces gathered recently to review their experiences, discuss challenges and align closer to ensure the development of more effective elite players across the IRFU Elite Player Pathway.

On the Ireland Under-20 team, the best known is Conor Joyce (pictured) at number 8 who is currently plying his trade with Ulster. Conor was educated at Solihull School and turned down a Leicester Academy contract in favour of Ulster.

He is joined by winger Alex O'Meara from that famed rugby academy Hartpury College, and hooker George McGuigan of Newcastle Falcons.

On the Ireland Women's team, pride of place goes to out-half Lynne Cantwell (Richmond), Ireland's most capped player, who will have fellow Exile Larissa Muldoon (Cardiff Metropolitan University - another famed rugby academy) serving her at scrum-half.

In the forwards, Sophie Spence (Mowden Park Sharks) plays at lock, while Claire Molloy (Bristol) plays at openside flanker. Among the replacements is Lauren Day (Waterloo).

We wish them all well for their respective encounters with the Welsh.