Northampton Saints and Australia centre Rob Horne has been forced into early retirement through injury.
A match against the Leicester Tigers last weekend saw the 28-year-old knocked unconscious in the opening minute.
Nerve damage sustained to his right arm is thought to have been the critical factor in forcing the decision.
A statement by the Saints said:
After undergoing tests, leading neurological consultants from The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore) confirmed that Horne has suffered career-ending nerve damage to his right arm.
Horne had joined the Saints at the beginning of this Premiership season, and has received 34 Australia caps in an international career spanning eight years.
Interim Saints head coach Alan Dickens was particularly upset by the news:
All our thoughts are of course with Rob and his family at this time.
Rob is not only a world-class rugby player, but he’s an exceptional man. He is a hugely respected and popular member of the dressing room and this will be an enormous loss to Saints – both from a rugby and a personal perspective.
The back had made 21 appearances in a Saints jersey this year, scoring eight tries.
