Former England and British & Irish Lions forward Tom Croft retires

Former England and British and Irish Lions forward Tom Croft has retired on medical grounds, his club Leicester have announced.

Croft, 31, who made his Tigers debut a week after his 20th birthday in 2005, went on to play in four Premiership title-winning teams and in the 2009 European Cup final during 173 first-team appearances. He also scored 27 tries in a Tigers shirt.

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He won 40 caps for England in 2008 and toured twice with the Lions, scoring two tries on his Test bow against South Africa in Durban.

Croft suffered a serious neck injury against Harlequins in 2012, which necessitated an eight-month convalescence period, and after another neck injury this season, he has decided to take the advice of the specialists and hang up his boots.

He said: "I've played professional rugby at Leicester for 12 years and in that time I've enjoyed every second of it. I've played alongside and against some incredible players and made many lifelong friends in the game.

"Unfortunately I have also suffered some reasonably significant injuries and now, after seeking advice on a neck injury, I have to announce my retirement as a player.

"Leaving the game has been a massive decision for me, it is all I've known since leaving school, but with the issues I've had fitness-wise over the last few years and with my wife and two young kids at home it's the right time to hang the boots up and move on to the next chapter."

Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen said: "Crofty displayed a unique talent as one of the quickest forwards in the game.

"He had a natural ability around the pitch but also worked hard on the other parts of the game which made him one of the leading back-row forwards in the world.

"He also showed his strength of will and determination in returning from a serious injury to play again at the highest level and deserves his place among the very best produced by the Tigers in its long history."