Alix Popham retires

Wales international Alix Popham has followed medical advice to retire from playing.

The former Newport, Scarlets and Leeds number eight was hoping to join a Welsh region next season after spending three years away with Brive in France.

But after having reconstruction surgery on his shoulder, the 31-year-old has been told the injury presents too high a risk for him to continue playing.

"It's incredibly disappointing," said Popham, capped 33 times by Wales.

"But the advice is that my playing days are over and I have to accept what the experts say."

Popham moved to Brive in 2008 after the French club agreed to pay a six-figure fee to release him from his contract with Llanelli Scarlets.

The move came shortly after he came off the bench after 13 minutes in Wales' Six Nations win over England at Twickenham.

He was dropped from the squad for the remaining matches in the championship by coach Warren Gatland, who citied a lack of on-field discipline, and has not played for his country since.