Gustard to call it quits

Saracens back-row forward Paul Gustard has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the season.

Sarries lose another veteran forward

Saracens back-row forward Paul Gustard has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the season. Gustard, 32, has played for 11 years in the top flight for Leicester, London Irish and Saracens. He made his Leicester debut during the 1997/98 campaign and has made a total of 172 Premiership appearances. Gustard's representative career included games at England A and England Under-21 level, as well as two non-cap games for the full England team. He said: "I have enjoyed every minute of my career, but the time feels right for me to call it a day. "I've got some very fond memories throughout those 11 years, and I've been lucky enough to win Heineken Cup and Premiership titles in that time. "I have also really enjoyed my time at Saracens and obviously, it would have been the dream scenario to bow out in a Heineken Cup final, but that wasn't to be." Saracens lost a Heineken Cup semi-final to Munster last month. Gustard's Saracens back-row colleague Richard Hill us also retiring, while forwards Kevin Yates and Iain Fullarton are also leaving the club.