RUGBY NEWS:FRANKIE SHEAHAN has been forced to abandon plans to see out his career in the French Top-14 and will instead hang up his boots with immediate effect. The former Ireland and Munster hooker had been due to link up with Brive this summer but injury has now ended his career.

Sheahan aggravated an existing pectoral injury muscle during his final appearance for Munster in April and has reluctantly called it a day.

The 29-time capped Irish hooker, who played for Munster 169 times in his 14 seasons with the province, had been looking forward to linking up with new Brive recruit Rikki Flutey, as well as Steve Thompson and Andy Goode.

“I had injured the pec’ against Connacht at Christmas and at that stage the medics reckoned it was a career-ending injury,” he said yesterday.

“But I’d been in this position before, had an operation on it in January and with the help of the Munster medical team and fitness coaches I got back into contention for selection for the end of the season games.

“However I took another knock (pec) in that game and soon after accepted what the medics were telling me and I’ve decided to call it a day.”