12 Apr 2012

Wales hooker forced to retire

6:50 am on 12 April 2012

Wales hooker Lloyd Burns has been forced to retire from rugby with a neck injury that has left him with a damaged aorta and possibly in need of heart surgery.

Burns, who graduated from Welsh club rugby to represent Wales at last year's World Cup all in the space of 18 months, has been out of action since the beginning of January.

27 year old Burns was capped seven times for Wales, and he played three games for his country at last year's World Cup.