Jamie Heaslip forced to retire on medical advice after failing to recover from injury suffered in 2017 Six Nations

The Leinster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions forward has retired due to injury

Jamie Heaslip has retired with immediate effect due to injury (Getty)

Jamie Heaslip has announced his retirement with immediate effect after taking medical advice on a back injury that has kept him out of rugby union for nearly a year.

The Leinster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions No 8 has undergone two operations on his lower back to try and save his professional career, but after consulting a doctor as well as his wife and family, the 34-year-old has elected to retire from the game “in order to ensure my future wellbeing”.

In a statement released on Twitter, Heaslip wrote: “Time will get us all, but it’s cornered me earlier than I hoped. Every professional sportsperson always hopes to be able [to] leave their chosen sport on their terms but too often that’s not the case.

“I have had to take on board the medical advice that I have been given and after talking to [wife] Sheena and my family I have taken the difficult decision to retire with immediate effect from playing rugby in order to ensure my future wellbeing.”

The former Irish captain helped win the 2009, 2014 and 2015 Six Nations (Getty)

The Israel-born forward – his father Richard was serving in Tiberias at the time of his birth – won 95 international caps for Ireland, plus five British and Irish Lions Test appearances across the 2009 and 2013 tours, having scored 13 tries for his country.

The Newbridge College graduate also scored the 2016 World Rugby Try of the Year, finishing a flowing move from end-to-end for Ireland in their Six Nations victory over Italy, but he has not played since last year’s championship after suffering a back injury in the warm-up for the win over England on the final weekend. Having missed the rest of the 2016/17 season for Leinster as well as the 2017/18 campaign so far, Heaslip has decided to call it a day, ending a 13-year professional career after making his debut back in 2005 in which he made 229 appearances for the province.

Heaslip has been forced to retire after injuring his back during last year's Six Nations (Getty)

“I’m very proud to finish my career as a one-club man having played amongst some of the best in the game, who are all like a family of brothers to me,” Heaslip added.

“My goal when I started my professional career 14 years ago was to leave the jerseys that I wore in a better place and I hope I have done that.

“Thank you to the IRFU [Irish Rugby Football Union], Leinster Rugby, all the coaches, medical staff, backroom staff, sponsors, media, supporters and most importantly my wife, family, friends and fellow players for helping me to make my dreams come true.

“I’ve had the time of my life on and off the rugby pitch but now it’s time for the next chapter.”

Heaslip featured on the 2009 and 2013 British and Irish Lions tours (Getty)

He ends his career having won three Six Nations titles with Ireland – including the 2009 Grand Slam – and as a former Ireland captain, along with being nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year in both 2009 and 2016. At club level, Heaslip helped Leinster to three European Cups, a European Challenge Cup and three Celtic League/Pro12 titles, having been named the club’s captain in 2014.