From as early as pre-season, questions and speculation floated in the air: Is he done? Heaslip, the cast-iron athlete with “wolverine blood” that made him immune to the serious injuries and niggles that pepper most players’ careers, had finally looked human. All the while, he spoke in optimistic terms, of putting “one foot in front of the other” and returning to play. There were rumours of a return just weeks ago. But it all came to a sudden halt yesterday, and when it came…

Source: The Times February 27, 2018 00:03 UTC