London Wasps hooker Steve Thompson has been forced to retire form the game due to a neck injury.

Thompson, who lifted the Heineken Cup with Northampton Saints back in 2000, retired briefly in 2007 with another neck injury but then recovered and made his comeback for Brive.

He spent three seasons with the French side before moving to Leeds where he added a further 5 European appearances to his tally of 65.

Thompson then announced his move to Wasps this summer but only managed to play one game for his new side following his return from the World Cup with England.

"I went to the specialist and he advised me it isn't safe to carry on playing," Thompson said.

"I was gutted. I hit a scrum machine and it just went. I played 60 minutes at Worcester and that was it. I tried to convince myself it was fine and it wasn't.

"I went to the specialist and he advised me it isn't safe to carry on playing. I need another operation, which will happen on Tuesday. I have had a lot of numbness and dizziness.

"I was enjoying rugby. I thought I had done all right at the World Cup and I was really looking forward to Wasps. Dai Young is someone I really wanted to play for."