Adam Jones has announced he will retire at the end of the season and move into coaching.
The 37-year-old former Wales and Lions prop will become Harlequins’ assistant forwards coach next season, working alongside forwards coach Graham Rowntree.
It will bring an end to a glittering playing career for Jones, who won four Six Nations titles and three Grand Slams with Wales – while being capped 95 times – and toured with the Lions in 2009 and 2013.
He is one of only six Welshmen to have won three Grand Slams during a 100-cap Test career. The others are Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies, JPR Williams, Ryan Jones and Gethin Jenkins.
Jones said: “I’ll be officially retiring from playing at the end of the season. I’ve had a great career and never thought I’d go on to achieve what I have.
“I’m so passionately proud to have played so many times for Wales and was fortunate to be a part of three Grand Slam-winning teams.
“But it’s time to move onto the next chapter of my career and concentrate on coaching. Coaching is a route I have always wanted to go down, so this is an opportunity for me to work with and learn from two of the best in John Kingston and Graham Rowntree.
“We potentially have the best group of props in the Premiership at Harlequins, with England props Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler and Will Collier, plus the up-and-coming Lewis Boyce. So I hope to be able to help them push on with Harlequins and at International level.”
Jones has made 30 appearances for the London club since joining them in 2015, previously starring for Neath, Ospreys and Cardiff Blues.
But his appearances have become less frequent and he has yet to play for the London club this season, which had made a retirement decision at the end of the campaign appear likely.
“Adam’s formal retirement from playing clearly marks the end of a wonderful on-field career in rugby at the very highest level,” said Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston.
“He has effectively been coaching over the last three seasons – at first in part whilst playing and more recently almost exclusively.
“His relationship with Graham Rowntree is a very strong one and I am absolutely delighted that he has chosen to accept the position of assistant forwards Coach at Harlequins.”