George Kruis, a former England and Saracens lock, is retiring after the May season with Japanese side Saitama West Knights.
The 32 year-old was capped by England 45 times and featured in the 2019 World Cup Final. In 2017, he also won one British Lions Test cap.
Kruis, who made 185 club appearances and won four Premiership and three Champions Cup titles during his 11-year tenure with Saracens.
He will retire in 2020 moved to Japan,He won the Top League title last year.
Kruis posted on social media, “I’ve made a hugely difficult decision to retire at end of the season.”
“I can sum up the past 14 years as the most absurd journey, full of memories and friends.
“I am extremely grateful to have been able to retire on the terms I chose.”
Kruis made his England debut in 2014 against New Zealand and was part the winning teams for the 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam as well as the 2020 Six Nations title.
He was a part of two World Cups in his country in 2015 and 2019. In 2019, he was replaced by South Africa in the 2019 final defeat.
In 2020, Saracens were demoted to the Championship for violating the salary cap. Kruis decided to leave the country that year on a one-year contract.
Kruis stated that his move to Japan was not a retirement from international rugby. However, he did not play for England again in the Six Nations victory over Wales in March 2020.
Kruis will now be focusing entirely on Fourfive, his sports nutrition company that he started with former Saracens teammate Dominic Day in 2018.
