England's 2003 World Cup winning lock Ben Kay has confirmed that he will retire from rugby.
The 34-year-old lock left Leicester Tigers at the end of the season after the Guinness Premiership champions chose not to offer him a new deal.
Kay, who won 62 caps for England, is pursuing a media career and will now work as a commentator with ESPN.
"I had other options but I was keeping things open while ESPN confirmed the deal," Kay told the Guardian.
Kay made his Leicester Tigers debut in September 1999 and helped them win six Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups, in all featuring in 281 first-team games for the Tigers.
Kay was however left out of the squad for Leicester's Premiership semi-final against Bath and also missed the Premiership final in which Leicester beat Saracens 33-27 and won their third title in four years.
On the club's decision not to offer him a new deal, he said: "These days it's a business and making the right decision at the right time is why Leicester have been so successful at it."
Kay played an integral part of England's World Cup-winning side seven years ago and also played every minute of every match in 2007 when they also reached the final before losing to South Africa.
Kay also earned two British and Irish Lions caps in 2005 when the Lions toured New Zealand.
Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill said last month: "Ben has been a brilliant servant of the club for over a decade and a genuine world-class operator with the club, with England and the Lions."
Kay will however not be completely out of rugby as he will be a co-commentator with ESPN for next season's Premiership television coverage.
