Kris Radlinksi announces retirement

Wigan have announced that former Great Britain full-back Kris Radlinski is retiring from Rugby League with immediate effect.

Wigan chairman, Maurice Lindsay, said: "This is dreadful news for both Kris and the club and indeed for the whole of the Rugby League.

?Kris has been battling against one injury after another since the time he was injured against Australia in Sydney in 2002. The final straw arrived when he could not make sufficient recovery from his long standing knee injury.

?We fully understand his right to give up the struggle particularly as he has been such a great servant to the club and the game itself. Kris only managed to play in 15 games in the 2005 season and has only played one game since July.

"The retirement of Kris Radlinski probably marks the end of a remarkable phase in the Wigan club's history.

?Kris played alongside the likes of Andy Farrell, Jason Robinson, Gary Connolly, Terry Newton, Mick Cassidy, Martin Offiah, Denis Betts, Adrian Lam and many others, but we now have a new team which will hopefully produce new stars.

?If the current players show the same character and courage that Kris Radlinski showed us, we will be more than successful."

Radlinski himself added: "I am so disappointed that I have to give up the game I love so much. To be honest I think the day has been coming for a little while and I need to be fair to the club as well as myself.

?I want Wigan to be successful. The club has been great to me over the years and now that I have made this decision they can start planning. I've talked it over at length with Maurice Lindsay and we both agree this is the best way forward.

?Maurice has suggested to me that I consider getting involved with the clubs youth division, that is something I will consider in the future. I want to thank everyone at the club and especially the fans who have been great to me over the years.

?I have so many memories to treasure with possibly none more so than winning the Lance Todd Trophy at Murrayfield in the Challenge Cup Final of 2002. I will always remain a Wigan fan which is where I started."

Head Coach, Ian Millward, stated: "It is a sad loss for the club and I am personally sorry that I never got a chance to work with Kris. He was a player I much admired