One Irish sports star who has been keen to develop his business portfolio in recent years, rugby international Jamie Heaslip's latest investment is in 'Pointy'.

The app allows users to search for a specific product and then relays which shops in your vicinity have it, as well as have much they have in stock.

Launched by a Dublin startup in early 2015, thus far over one in 10 shops in the capital have signed up for the service.

It enables these retailers to quickly create a website listing all of their stock using an electronic device that plug's into a store's barcode scanner and point-of-sale system.

The company is hoping that Pointy will eventually help keep €3.6 billion in online sales in Ireland.

Heaslip has a number of other projects on the go, despite selling his stake in the Jo'burger restaurant chain earlier this year.

The 32-year-old number eight has also invested in lighting business UrbanVolt and coconut drinks business Coco5, and is planning a new food venture with Leinster and Ireland colleague Rob Kearney.

He continues to have a stake in The Bridge 1859 pub in Dublin 4 and website LovinDublin.

Speaking to this writer in 2012, Heaslip was already looking ahead to life after rugby:

"You've got to keep yourself busy outside of rugby, keep your mind fresh," he said. "Someone was talking the other day about emotional intelligence and that plays a part in that: keeping mentally fresh, not just living in a bubble".

In recent years, Heaslip has expressed an interest in sports marketing. He even interned at Google having met former Google Ireland head John Herlihy when he gave a talk to the Irish team.