Ronan forced to call it a day

Niall Ronan has been forced to draw the curtain down on his career as a professional rugby player because of injury.

Ronan enjoyed a varied career in sport. He represented Meath in the Leinster MFC and turned out for St Colmcille's before concentrating on the oval ball game. He turned out for Delvin RFC and Boyne RFC.

Ronan played for Leinster and was transferred to Munster in 2007. His progress down south was hampered by injury although he did go on to be capped for Ireland at senior level.

It was an knee injury he picked up last October in training that eventually forced him to hang up the boots at just 31 years of age. He had surgery before Christmas to rectify the problem but he has struggled to regain the level of fitness required.

He intends to set up a business in Drogheda and open up a new chapter in his life.

'I will return to my home town of Drogheda and set up a business in the line of work I've studied for, focussing on injury and rehabilitation,' he outlined in a statement.

'I believe my experience as a professional rugby player will help me in this regard and I am looking forward to supporting my old club Boyne RFC from the sidelines, going back to where it all began for me.'