Leicester Tigers lock Richard Blaze has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the age of just 25 due to injury.

Blaze, who has represented England at age-group and Saxons level, joined the double Heineken Cup Champions in the summer of 2007 after playing for Moseley and Worcester Warriors.

A stress fracture of the foot ruled him out of much of the 2008/09 season but Blaze returned for the start of 2009/10 campaign.

However whilst training with the senior England squad ahead of the autumn internationals the injury struck again and he has been out of action since.

His final playing appearance was against London Irish in October 2009 and he has now been told he cannot return to the game.

“It’s obviously a disappointing moment when you get to the stage where you have to say you cannot play again,” said Blaze.

“I’ve enjoyed my rugby through schools and age-groups, then into the professional game and I was really looking to push on when I came to Leicester in 2007.

“I’ve worked hard to come back from the injury but in the end I’ve been advised that the stress fracture is not going to stand up to the demands of a full-time career and reluctantly announced my retirement.

“I love the game of rugby and I’d like to thank the medical and the strength and conditioning staff, especially Julie Hayton and Andy Shelton, for their help at Leicester for their great support. But now I will have to move on and make decisions about my future.

“I wish everyone at Tigers all the best for the rest of the season and hope they can enjoy success.”

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “It’s extremely disappointing when a young player has to retire prematurely. We signed Richard because he was a young player we could see developing well within our environment and he made a good impression here on and off the field.

“It is a great pity that injuries stood in his way and we all feel for him now that he is unable to continue. He is a big loss to Leicester Tigers and also to England as he has been brought through the international ranks from the age-groups to the verge of the senior squad.

“On behalf of everyone at Leicester Tigers, I’d like to wish him well for the future.”