Munster and Ireland hooker Damien Varley forced to retire

Another Munter stalwart forced to call it a day

31-year-old hooker Damien Varley has confirmed that he is to retire from rugby due to injury. The Munster and Ireland man has, according to his province, been forced to retire from the game due to a left foot injury he sustained at a training session in July 2013. A statement from Munster reads: 'Following ongoing rehabilitation the hooker made his one and only appearance of the season as a replacement against Leinster in October. 'But ongoing persistent symptoms restricted his ability to train and play further, and he required surgery later that month.  In rehabbing the injury for the next three months, exhausting all possibilities, Varley met with the surgeon in January for a consultation and the Clare-man was advised to retire from rugby on medical grounds. Varley has three caps for Ireland and made 121 appearances for the province, scoring 12 tries. He was called into Ireland's squad for the 2011 World Cup following a calf injury to Munster teammate Jerry Flannery. Varley says, 'Like so many before me I will look back at my time in Munster with immense pride and fondness, not only for the sport, but for the people that I have played with, worked with and the friendships I have made. "I am privileged to have represented my province and country and I am hugely thankful for all the memories, and for the support I have received throughout my career.' Varley is a known crooner in the Munster set-up and delivered this great 'Lean on Me' rendition in 2013, on RTE's Brendan O'Connor Show. http://youtu.be/hu5B2Lp-Qa8