Former British and Irish Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll believes the retirement of Leinster number eight Jamie Heaslip will hurt Ireland in the upcoming 2019 World Cup to be played in Japan.

France forward Pascal Pape has been suspended for 10 weeks and will miss the rest of the RBS 6 Nations after he kneed Jamie Heaslip in the back during last Saturday's game against Ireland.

Jamie Heaslip has accepted Pascal Pape's Twitter apology for the crude knee to the back that could end the Ireland number eight's RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Jamie Heaslip is unlikely to feature again in Ireland's quest to retain the RBS 6 Nations title after being ruled out of action for the next month.

France lock Pascal Pape will face a disciplinary hearing for the knee to the back that could yet end Jamie Heaslip's participation in this year's RBS 6 Nations.

Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip refused to be daunted by the challenge of taking on reigning champions Toulon in their Heineken Cup quarter-final tomorrow (6th April).

Stand-in skipper Jamie Heaslip shrugged off a disallowed try to claim the score that broke Scotland's resistance in Ireland's 28-6 RBS 6 Nations victory in Dublin.