Popular Leeds second row Jon Pendlebury has been forced to retire due to injury.
Premature end to Leeds ace's career
Popular Leeds second row Jon Pendlebury has been forced to retire due to injury.
The 29-year-old went on to make 53 appearances for the club after arriving in 2008 from Gloucester - with Pendlebury having previously played for Rotherham.
Pendlebury, though, has now accepted medical advice and decided to quit following a number of concussions.
Pendlebury, who will now take up a role as assistant coach for the club's academy, told the club's official site: "It has been a tough decision but it was important that I put my health first before anything else.
"I am extremely grateful to our medical staff at Leeds Carnegie and our club doctor Jon Greenwell who has talked me through all the options.
Concussions
"I have suffered a number of concussions this season and it is time to move onto the next stage of my career. I would like to thank Chris Gibson, Diccon Edwards and Mark Luffman for the opportunity work with the academy team.
"Whilst I wish that my playing career still had two or three years to go, I am very excited to work with the incredible young talent we have in Yorkshire.
"There have been lots of highlights in my career. Making my debut for Rotherham, signing for Gloucester and coming to Leeds were all special moments. But above all those events, the best thing has been meeting some of my best friends during my time at Leeds Carnegie, friends I will have for the rest of my life.
"I would like to thank all the club's supporters for their backing and the RPA, especially Mandy Thompson, who have helped me in the past few years to prepare for the end of my career.
"Finally, I owe a massive debt of thanks to my family and especially my wife Donna for their support throughout my career and in particularly over the last few months as I came to the decision to retire."
