Newcastle Red Bulls hooker Hame Faiva has retired from professional rugby because of injury at the age of 31.
Faiva, who won 10 caps for Italy and also played for Worcester Warriors and Bath, joined Newcastle last summer.
The New Zealand-born hooker only managed three games for the Red Bulls, the last of which was in November in a Prem Rugby Cup match.
“Hame is an outstanding character who can look back on a fantastic career, and it has been a pleasure having him as part of our group,” said, external sporting general manager Neil McIlroy.
