Saracens back-row forward Paul Gustard has announced he will retire from the game at the end of this season.

The 32-year-old has enjoyed 11 years in the top flight with Leicester, London Irish and then Saracens.

He was handed his Leicester debut during the 1997/98 campaign and has made a total of 172 Premiership appearances for his three clubs.

“I have enjoyed every minute of my career, but the time feels right for me to call it a day,” he said.

“I’ve got some very fond memories throughout those 11 years, and I’ve been lucky enough to win Heineken Cup and Premiership titles in that time.

“I have also really enjoyed my time at Saracens and obviously, it would have been the dream scenario to bow out in a Heineken Cup final, but that wasn’t to be.”

Gustard, who represented England A and England Under-21s and featured in two non-cap fixtures for his country, will join his Saracens back-row colleague Richard Hill in retiring.

Fellow Saracens forwards Kevin Yates and Iain Fullarton are also leaving Vicarage Road.

Leicester Tigers have agreed a deal to sign Otago Highlanders and New Zealand back row Craig Newby at the end of the current season.

The flanker, who has previously had a brief spell with Newcastle Falcons, was capped three times by the All Blacks between 2004 and 2006.

“I know a lot about the history of the club and that’s one of the reasons I chose Leicester,” said the 28-year-old.

“I think I’ll suit the English game, it’s quite a physical forward style.”

He added: “The way Leicester run the club was very important to me.

“There’s a family nature to Tigers. I’ve got a young family and I’m looking to add to it, so that was one of the biggest things for me.

Craig is an outstanding player and he is a leader Marcelo Loffreda

“It’ll be a change of lifestyle and we’re looking forward to experiencing a different culture.”

Tigers head coach Marcelo Loffreda added: “Craig is an outstanding player in Super 14 rugby and he is a leader.

“He is a versatile and talented player who can play across the back row.

“That is important to us as we look at competition for places in the squad in three tournaments during a long season.”

And still it continues. It is only four days since Harlequins confirmed the signing of the All Black outside-half Nick Evans – news met with much wailing and gnashing of teeth down Auckland way – yet the focus has already shifted to potential targets for the Guinness Premiership’s next raid on the southern hemisphere. Frans Steyn for Bath? If that happens, the rest of the world may as well give up on their domestic rugby and go surfing instead.

The last time Wasps were at Kingston Park, back in February, they were confronted by a 75mph wind that forced the postponement of this Guinness Premiership fixture until the last week of the regulation season. Three months on, the European champions of 2007 did not exactly enjoy a breeze on a balmy early-summer night on Tyneside. Indeed, before the interval, the wind was somewhat taken out of their sails by a Newcastle side featuring nine changes to the side that did for Leicester here last Sunday.

While the Irish Rugby Football Union announced the appointment of a head coach in waiting yesterday – Declan Kidney will concentrate on Munster’s final push for the Heineken Cup and miss Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia before taking hold of the reins – reports emerged from South Africa suggesting that Leicester have a head coach waiting to depart.