Rugby League: Britain winger Brian Carney yesterday stunned the rugby league world by announcing his retirement at the age of 30.

The former Gaelic footballer from Co Wicklow decided to hang up his boots just 24 hours after returning to training in Australia with the National Rugby League newcomers Gold Coast Titans.

Carney enjoyed a meteoric rise in the game after being spotted by Gateshead Thunder playing student rugby league in Ireland in 1998.

He played for Hull in 2000 before moving to Wigan, where he scored 42 tries in 101 appearances before beginning his Australian stint with Newcastle Knights last season.

Carney was voted best winger in his inaugural season in the NRL and was Britain's vicecaptain in each of the last two Tri-Nations Series.

He won his 14th cap in the Lions' 23-12 win over Australia in Sydney last November.