Luke Fitzgerald admits injuries almost forced him to retire

Ireland wing Luke Fitzgerald admits he came close to retirement "on a couple of occasions" during his injury-plagued rugby career.

The Leinster back, 27, will make his first international start since 2011 on Saturday in Ireland's crunch Six Nations finale against Scotland in Murrayfield.

Fitzgerald has revealed he received a "pretty crappy contract" as a result of his numerous injury setbacks and while it made no financial sense to continue, he took a chance he would be able to regain full fitness - a gamble which now appears to have paid off.