Volkswacht Bodensee - Former England rugby star Brown to retire

Brown, who made 72 appearances for England from 2007 to 2018, will bring down the curtain on his career when Leicester's Premiership campaign comes to an end.

The 39-year-old has made 280 Premiership appearances, the fourth highest in the competition's history, playing more than 530 games in total during a 20-year professional career.

Brown, nicknamed 'Mr Angry' because of his combative style and willingness to speak his mind, used his farewell announcement to call on rugby's authorities to safeguard the game's future.

"Club owners, league executives, national and international governing body senior leadership - my hope is that you come together, think beyond the short term and make the bold, unselfish decisions needed to allow rugby to thrive once again," he said.

"We have a responsibility to protect and grow this incredible game so future generations can experience everything it has to offer - just as I have."

Brown spent 16 years at Harlequins, where he won the Premiership title twice, and played for Newcastle before joining Leicester in 2023.

Leicester are second in the Premiership as Brown bids to bow out with a title triumph.

"After a great deal of reflection, the time feels right to step away from professional rugby," he said.

"Rugby has given me more than I could ever have imagined, but now it's time for a new chapter."

E.Burkhard--VB