News: Australia prop Ben Darwin has retired from rugby after suffering a serious neck injury during the World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand last year.

"Upon review of my injury the doctors have decided that it is necessary for me to retire from rugby," the 27-year-old said in a statement released by the Australian Rugby Union yesterday. "There was no decision for me to make. The doctors's advice was very clear."

Darwin, who won 28 caps after making his debut against the Lions in 2001, injured his neck in a collapsed scrum against the All Blacks at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on November 15th and was forced to miss the World Cup final loss to England a week later.

"It is very emotional," Darwin told a news conference in Sydney. "Mainly I'm just going to miss the guys."

Doctors initially feared Darwin would need surgery after scans revealed a prolapsed disc in his neck was touching his spinal cord, but later tests revealed the injury was not as bad as first thought.

Darwin said at the time that he lost feeling in his body and only the fact that All Black prop Kees Meeuws stopped pushing prevented him from crashing into the ground "Thank you to Kees Meeuws, who in a selfless act, may have saved my life," Darwin said yesterday.

Gerry Thornley adds: In a timely show of unity and strength on the eve of today's potentially pivotal day-long meeting of the IRFU committee to discuss the future of the AIB All-Ireland League, the First Division Senior Clubs' Association last night agreed to support the continuation of the existing first division structure of 14 teams with promotion and relegation each season.

In a statement, the assocation also called on the IRFU "to support the clubs in the further development and marketing of a strong and vibrant AIL first division." It also "expressed its support for the AIL second and third division clubs in whatever structure they, the clubs, decide upon."