8 Apr 2009

Farrell to retire from rugby

7:04 am on 8 April 2009

The former England rugby league and union international Andy Farrell will retire from the sport at the end of the season to take up coaching.

33-year-old Farrell first played league with Wigan Warriors and went on to be the national team's youngest captain at 21.

He switched codes in 2005 and signed with Premiership club Saracens and, after an injury-plagued start to his union career, became an England international and played in the 2007 World Cup.

He says his mind still feels as sharp as ever but his body is telling him different things.