O'Shea forced to retire

Conor O'Shea spent seven seasons with London Irish

London Irish captain Conor O'Shea has been forced to retire because of a persistent ankle injury.

The 31-year-old first sustained the injury when he dislocated his ankle and broke his leg in a Premiership match against Gloucester just under a year ago.

He had been optimistic of making a playing comeback throughout his 11 months on the sidelines.

But, after three operations on his ankle, a consultation with his surgeon last week ended those hopes.

  Conor O'Shea

London Irish: 127 appearances; 62 tries

Ireland: 35 caps; six tries

Former clubs: Terenure College, Leinster

Award: Allied Dunbar Premiership players' player of the 1998/99 season

O'Shea made 127 first-team appearances for the exiles in his seven years with the club.

"He told me if I keep on going I will run into too much difficulty in the long term," said the full-back, who played for Ireland in the 1995 and 1999 World Cups.

O'Shea made 127 first-team appearances for the exiles in his seven years with the club and won 35 international caps.

"I could keep on going. But it would have been getting into a vicious circle of rehab, operations, rehab, operations," he said.

"That would have been the likely outcome, and when that is what my future holds there is not really a choice.

"For me, that was not a risk worth taking. I had to think what state would I be in 10 years from now.

It was the news I was expecting

Conor O'Shea

"From what I could gather it would not be a good state.

"After the first operation I knew there was something a little bit wrong.

"But I always hoped for the best."

O'Shea said he wanted to maintain his ties with the Sunbury-based Irish.

He has already joined the management board this season, helping player-coach Brendan Venter lift the Exiles into an unexpected third place in the Premiership.

"I want this team to be a real success, and if I can help do that off the field I will.

"In three years' time, if Ryan Strudwick, Declan Danaher or Kieron Dawson is lifting a trophy that will give me a great deal of satisfaction.

"That is what we're all working towards here."