Injury ends Vickery's career

Phil Vickery has been forced to retire from rugby with immediate effect.

The former British and Irish Lions, England and Wasps prop is set to announce his decision at a press conference later today.

It is understood Vickery, a World Cup winner from 2003 and a former England captain, has been forced to follow medical advice after suffering another neck injury.

The 34-year-old had successfully come back from four major back and neck operations before - but this time he was warned the risk of serious injury was too great.

The news will have hit Vickery hard, the man nicknamed Raging Bull had been talking about forcing his way back into England's World Cup plans and extending his playing days by another year.

Vickery's final international appearance was for the Lions in their third Test victory over South Africa at Ellis Park in the summer of 2009.

His final game for Wasps, on September 25, was against Gloucester at Kingsholm, the club where he had spent 11 years after moving from Cornwall.