Rugby-Ireland flanker Leavy retires at 27 due to long-term injury

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Ireland vs Italy - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - February 10, 2018 Ireland’s Dan Leavy in action with Italy’s Braam Steyn REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland and Leinster flanker Dan Leavy announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 27 on Tuesday, bringing a cruel end to the career of a Grand Slam winner who would have been a fixture in the Irish backrow but for a serious knee injury.

The all action openside was a pivotal member of the Ireland side that swept all aside in the 2018 Six Nations. He missed the following year's tournament through injury before suffering knee ligament damage upon his return for Leinster in March 2019.