Former Wales international Alix Popham has hung up his boots after failing to fully recover from a shoulder injury.
Back-row advised to quit due to shoulder injury
Former Wales international Alix Popham has hung up his boots after failing to fully recover from a shoulder injury.
Popham has been plagued by ongoing shoulder and elbow problems, with the 31-year-old having not played for his club Brive in the Top 14 since March.
And following consultation with specialists, Popham has decided to call time on his career.
Popham, who is now looking to move into coaching, said: "It's incredibly disappointing, but the advice is that my playing days are over and I have to accept what the experts say.
Options
"I'm currently assessing my options, but I would love to stay in rugby and I'm going to get involved with Newbridge youth and do my coaching badges and take it from there.
"The game has given me so much, I've been all over the world and had lots of amazing experiences and memories to look back on and have also made some great friends.
"It's a sad day to realise it's the end of a chapter for me, but it also makes me extremely happy to reflect on the experiences and achievements I've been lucky enough to take in during my rugby career."
Popham was capped 33 times by Wales, playing at both 2003 and 2007 World Cups, but he last represented his country in 2008.
Domestically, Popham played for Newbridge, Scarlets and Leeds before moving on to Brive in 2008.
