Former Wasps and Wales tight-head prop Ben Broster has today announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect.

Capped twice by Wales in 2005, Ben enjoyed successful spells at Wasps, Northampton Saints, Saracens and Scarlets, before moving to France in 2012 where he has spent the last five years playing for Biarritz and Aviron Bayonnais. Ben also represented his teammates on the RPA Players' Board, elected as the Wasps Player Representative from 2009 to 2012.

Ben Broster, said: “It's with great sadness and disappointment that I have had to retire on medical advice, I had hoped to play a couple more seasons but it was not to be. I can look back on my career with great pride. I have been extremely privileged to do what I love for a living, playing for some great clubs, representing my country and playing with and against some of the world’s best players. Rugby has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and it has taught me sound values and given me lifelong friendships. I would like to thank my family and friends for their ongoing support, all the coaches, conditioners and medical staff who have been there throughout my career, my agent, my teammates and the RPA who continue to support me. I’m now very much looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”

RPA Group CEO, Damian Hopley, said: “Ben has served his country and clubs with distinction throughout his long and successful career. He has shown tremendous resilience in coming back from various injury setbacks and has excelled as a hard working professional throughout. On behalf of everyone at the RPA, I would like to wish Ben the very best for his retirement and thank him for his fantastic service to our game."