Former Wales lock Jake Ball announces retirement

Former Wales lock Jake Ball has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the upcoming Japan Rugby League One season.

The 33-year-old earned 50 caps for Wales during a nine-year spell with the Scarlets, who he joined from the Western Force in 2012.

Ball made his Wales debut in the 2014 Six Nations, with his final cap coming in 2021 shortly before he left the Scarlets to join Japan's NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu.

The lock is entering his fourth and final season in Japan, where he is coached by former Wales boss Wayne Pivac, before he hangs up his boots to spend more time with his family and grow his supplement and wellness company.

The final season of the Wales international's career begins on December 22 against RedHurricanes Osaka.

He wrote on social media: "Professional Rugby has been my dream, my passion and my career for the last fifteen years. I have made the tough decision to retire at the end of the 2024/2025 season in order to spend more time with my family and to develop and grow my new supplement and wellness company Veritroo.

"I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey rugby has taken me on, from my early days with the Western Force, then to the Scarlets and representing Wales on the international stage and finally playing here in Japan with the NEC Green Rockets. Every chapter has enabled me to live out that childhood dream.

"To my teammates, coaches, staff and fans I have made some great friendships and memories that I will cherish. Thank you for the support and good times over the years.

"I am looking forward to my final season with NEC Green Rockets before moving on to the next chapter of my life."