Craig Newby has retired due to a knee injury © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Craig Newby

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Leicester Tigers | New Zealand

Leicester Tigers flanker Craig Newby has been forced to retire from the game.

Newby has been struggling with a knee injury and the former All Black has now called time on his career. The flanker won three caps for the Kiwis and has turned out 84 times for the Tigers.

The announcement comes a week after fellow back-rower Ben Woods' retirement and Newby will now look to embark on the next stage in his career. "Coming to Leicester Tigers has been a great experience and I have a lot of good memories from playing for the club," Newby said. "We've been involved in a lot of big games, the semi-finals and finals in the Premiership and in the cup competitions. There have been a lot of highlights.

"Outside the rugby, the thing that stands out for me is that, although the club is a big business, it is also like a big family and everyone is very welcoming. I've made some good mates in England. I love living here and that is something I want to continue to do.

"I would like to stay in rugby in some capacity, and coaching does appeal to me. I've worked with a lot of good coaches and top-class players in my rugby career, and I would like to think I've picked up a knowledge of the game that I would like to pass on in a coaching capacity somewhere."

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill added: "Newbs has been a key member of the squad in his four full seasons at the club. He is a quality player, and his knowledge of the game and his leadership qualities have been very important to us.

"It is sad to see his career come to an end due to his knee injury, but we all wish him well in the future and he will always be welcome here."

The Tigers have bolstered their back-row resources in recent times with the recruitment of Brett Deacon and Richard Thorpe.