Ellis retires

The 28-year-old British & Irish Lion needed reconstruction of his left knee in 2007 and after a series of comebacks has finally admitted defeat.

"I was gutted and really upset when I found out and it took a while to get used to," Ellis told the Leicester Mercury.

"It took a lot of soul-searching to decide to retire but when someone like Andy Williams says you should call it a day, you have to take his advice.

"It was a very hard decision to make, but it was also easy on the basis of what it had been doing to me.

"All last season I was taking a hell of a lot of pain-killers and I was constantly having blood and fluid drained from my knee.

"As well as my rugby, there was also my health to think about. The amount of painkillers I was taking every day was causing my stomach real problems.

"I have had so many operations on my knee in the past that I knew it was time to retire."

Ellis looked set for a long international future before rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing against Bristol in 2007, an injury that required 10 months of recuperation and saw him miss the World Cup in France.

The Leicester academy product never really regained full fitness over the next two seasons, despite winning back his England place and enjoying domestic success with the Tigers and winning a cap on last year's Lions tour to South Africa.

However, he made just 24 of his 173 first-team appearances for the Tigers since his initial injury.

"After the knee reconstruction, it was always hard to get back to the levels of fitness that I wanted to be at. But then there was a new injury," Ellis added.

"I have a history of problems with that knee and it got almost impossible to play on. I was battling through the pain barrier all the time. It was even affecting me when I wasn't playing.

"I physically could not do it any more because the demands of the game are so great."

Ellis made his England debut when he came off the bench in the 32-16 win over South Africa in 2004.

"Harry has been an excellent player who always gave everything for Leicester Tigers and England," said England manager Martin Johnson, and also Ellis's skipper for club and country.

"From the first time he was involved it was obvious to everyone in the Tigers squad that he was a special talent and that he’d make a big impact for Leicester and England.

"I’m sure that if he’d been fit Harry would have continued to make a huge contribution to his club and country for many years to come."