Ireland winger Hickie to quit after World Cup

Winger Denis Hickie, Ireland's joint highest try scorer, is to retire from rugby after the World Cup. The 31-year-old Leinster player, named in his country's 30-man squad on Sunday, has collected a total of 58 caps since making a try-scoring debut...

Winger Denis Hickie, Ireland's joint highest try scorer, is to retire from rugby after the World Cup.

The 31-year-old Leinster player, named in his country's 30-man squad on Sunday, has collected a total of 58 caps since making a try-scoring debut against Wales in 1997.

"I have decided the best time to end my career is immediately after the upcoming World Cup," Hickie said in a statement.

"It is a decision I have not come to hastily and as a result I am content it is both the right thing for me to do and that I am doing it at the right time."

Hickie, who played in the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2005, and World Cup captain Brian O'Driscoll have both scored 29 tries for Ireland.

The squad began five days of warm-weather training in the south of France on Monday.

Ireland's first game of the tournament, hosted by France, is against Namibia in Bordeaux in Pool D on Sept. 9.

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