MIKE BROWN has announced his retirement at the end of the season with a call to rugby’s leaders to set aside self-interest in order to grow the game.

The 39-year-old, who made 72 appearances for England from 2007 to 2018, is to hang up his boots upon completion of the Tigers’ Gallagher Premiership title pursuit next month.

He will do so having made 280 league appearances, the fourth highest in the competition’s history, and having played in over 530 games in total during a 20-year professional career.