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.

The IRFU today announced a new one-year contract with Brian O'Driscoll which will see him remain available to play for Ireland and Leinster until the end of June 2014.

Ireland's Women continued their Rugby Sevens development by winning the Plate final at the London Sevens over the weekend.

The annual Technical Staff Conference was held in the Castleknock Hotel earlier this month and was opened by IRFU President Billy Glynn and director of rugby Eddie Wigglesworth.

Rob Kearney togged out with some rugby stars of the future to launch Kellogg's 2013 IRFU partnership. Kellogg's has been a proud supporter of Irish rugby for over ten years. During this time participation in the sport has continued to grow from a grassroots level with almost a fifth (18%) of children in Ireland now playing rugby.