Jason Leonard, the most capped player in international rugby history, is to retire from the sport at the end of the current season. The former England prop announced the end of his 114-cap international rugby career in March.
And on Wednesday he turned down a one-year contract to stay on at Harlequins, where he has played for 14 years.
He said: "This decision has been a very hard one to make. I wanted to go out while I am still playing good rugby."
His last match for Quins will be the Parker Pen Challenge Cup final against Montferrand on 22 May if he manages to overcome a foot injury.
 |  I would like to thank the countless people who have helped me over the years |
He said: "I still love the game and will miss the dressing room banter and training sessions enormously.
"And a final with Quins would be a great way to finish my playing association with the club I have been with for 14 years.
"My family have had to put up with a lot of absences on my part over the years and the time has come to devote more of my time to them.
"I would like to thank the countless people who have helped me over the years and hope to be able to continue being involved in the game in some capacity."
Following the end of his Quins career, the 35-year-old will play for the Barbarians against England on 30 May at Twickenham.
His last game will be at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium where a Jason Leonard XV will face a team put together by former Welsh international Neil Jenkins.
Leonard has already been tipped for a future role in England's coaching set-up by international boss Sir Clive Woodward.
MMIX
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