St Helens legend Paul Wellens has announced his retirement from Rugby League due to injury, effective immediately.
The 34-year old made his Super League debut back in the 1999 season, and has gone to appear for the club 495 times and has also represented England and Great Britain.
The 2006 Man Of Steel, who also won the Lance Todd trophy in 2007 and 2008, has had to call his time in Rugby League due to a long-standing hip injury. In his time in Rugby League, he has won 5 Super League Titles, 5 Challenge Cups, Two World Club Challenges and has been named in the Super League Dream team on four occasions.
On the announcement, the St Helens legend told the club's official website: "I've had an ongoing hip problem for around 12 months and tried my hardest to battle on through," he said. "I had injections last year to get through it - which was more than worth its while when you consider what we achieved - but in the early stages of this year I started to struggle with it again and that culminated with me leaving the field at Wigan on Good Friday.
"I knew something was substantially wrong there and I want the fans to know I have exhausted every angle possible in trying to find a way to get fit and playing. I still feel I can offer a lot to the club if my body would allow me to but sadly I can't.
"It is the nature of the sport; I made my debut at 18 and played until 35 so in the grand scheme of things I can't grumble.
"I will now have substantial surgery on my hip as it is having an effect on my quality of life. Small things like being able to kick a football around with my son, I can't do that so I have to get it right and focus on the next stage of my life.
"I'd like to thank my family who have been a huge support to me and in particular my parents who have been a constant source of support and my wife Rachel. When you go through tough times like this, or go on tour, she bears the brunt of it and looks after our kids. A lot of people make sacrifices to do what I do.
"I'd like to thank my teammates who have made my career very special. Win, lose or draw the people you meet, the people you play with make it special and they are friends for life.
"Finally, I'd like to thank the supporters as without them we wouldn't have a club. They have been phenomenal with me. In my career I have always done my best and I think the St Helens people appreciate that.
"Paul goes down as one of the greatest players and leaders in the history of the Club. He has won every honour in the game, and more, during his staggering seventeen years of success and the Saints," said the Saints Chairman Eamonn McManus. W
"In particular, I would point out his captaincy years. He assumed this at a very challenging time for the Club when we had lost a number of world class players who had either retired or had left the Club and at a time when we had the disruption of a year playing at Widnes and a then move to a new home in St Helens.
"He drove the team and the Club forward and into a new era which started with a remarkable Grand Final win against the odds at Old Trafford last year. The emotion etched on his face at the end of that triumph will forever be remembered.
"I'm sure that Paul will be integral to the future success of the Club in his new coaching career."
The 34-year old made his Super League debut back in the 1999 season, and has gone to appear for the club 495 times and has also represented England and Great Britain.
The 2006 Man Of Steel, who also won the Lance Todd trophy in 2007 and 2008, has had to call his time in Rugby League due to a long-standing hip injury. In his time in Rugby League, he has won 5 Super League Titles, 5 Challenge Cups, Two World Club Challenges and has been named in the Super League Dream team on four occasions.
On the announcement, the St Helens legend told the club's official website: "I've had an ongoing hip problem for around 12 months and tried my hardest to battle on through," he said. "I had injections last year to get through it - which was more than worth its while when you consider what we achieved - but in the early stages of this year I started to struggle with it again and that culminated with me leaving the field at Wigan on Good Friday.
"I knew something was substantially wrong there and I want the fans to know I have exhausted every angle possible in trying to find a way to get fit and playing. I still feel I can offer a lot to the club if my body would allow me to but sadly I can't.
"It is the nature of the sport; I made my debut at 18 and played until 35 so in the grand scheme of things I can't grumble.
"I will now have substantial surgery on my hip as it is having an effect on my quality of life. Small things like being able to kick a football around with my son, I can't do that so I have to get it right and focus on the next stage of my life.
"I'd like to thank my family who have been a huge support to me and in particular my parents who have been a constant source of support and my wife Rachel. When you go through tough times like this, or go on tour, she bears the brunt of it and looks after our kids. A lot of people make sacrifices to do what I do.
"I'd like to thank my teammates who have made my career very special. Win, lose or draw the people you meet, the people you play with make it special and they are friends for life.
"Finally, I'd like to thank the supporters as without them we wouldn't have a club. They have been phenomenal with me. In my career I have always done my best and I think the St Helens people appreciate that.
"Paul goes down as one of the greatest players and leaders in the history of the Club. He has won every honour in the game, and more, during his staggering seventeen years of success and the Saints," said the Saints Chairman Eamonn McManus. W
"In particular, I would point out his captaincy years. He assumed this at a very challenging time for the Club when we had lost a number of world class players who had either retired or had left the Club and at a time when we had the disruption of a year playing at Widnes and a then move to a new home in St Helens.
"He drove the team and the Club forward and into a new era which started with a remarkable Grand Final win against the odds at Old Trafford last year. The emotion etched on his face at the end of that triumph will forever be remembered.
"I'm sure that Paul will be integral to the future success of the Club in his new coaching career."