RUGBY: Anthony Foley has been made captain of the Irish team to play Romania in Thomond Park tomorrow following the withdrawal of Keith Wood due to the death of his brother Gordon yesterday morning. Gerry Thornley reports.
Wood had been due to lead Ireland out for the 29th time.
Foley has captained Ireland once before, in the victory over Western Samoa last season, though, as one of Wood's Killaloe neighbours and a long-time friend, he could hardly have done so in worse or more tragic circumstances.
Shane Byrne will replace Wood. With Frankie Sheahan injured, Ulster's Paul Shields - one of the most improved players of last season when making a big impression on the Irish A championship-winning team - has been drafted into the replacements' bench.
Meanwhile, former Springbok flanker Rob Brink, now playing for Ulster has decided to retire from the game due to the reoccurrence of a serious shoulder injury.
During the course of his first game for his adopted province in the season of 2001/02, he dislocated his shoulder and tore the supra-spinatus from the bone.
