Saracens statement: Forward has retired with immediate effect, aged 29

Saracens forward Tom Woolstencroft has been forced to retire from rugby union with immediate effect .

The hooker, who has been one of the great Saracens hookers across his six years at the club has unfortunately been recovering from concussion for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign and has now been forced into retirement on medical grounds.

The 29-year-old made 85 appearances for Sarries after joining in 2018 from London Irish, with his try-scoring record speaking for himself as the master of breaking away from rolling mauls.

In his first season at StoneX Stadium he won the Premiership and Champions Cup double, and he went on to add another Premiership title to his collection in the 2022/23 season.

He also played a crucial part in helping Sarries return to the top flight as he was an ever-present during the Championship winning campaign in 2021.

Woolstencroft’s leadership ability saw him captain the club on a number of occasions, and his battles with the likes of Jamie George and Theo Dan for the number two shirt have been a crucial part of the success in North London.

“Coming to terms with having to retire has been tough, particularly when it’s a club like Saracens you are leaving behind. I am proud of my career, and particularly, my contributions to this team.

Saracens is a club everyone aspires to play for, and to have been involved these last six seasons has been the greatest privilege. The success on the pitch surpassed anything I could have ever wished for, but it’s the time off the field and friendships made that I will cherish the most.

I’ve got to thank the coaches for putting their faith in me, and to the medical staff for patching me back together a fair few times. To the supporters, you have always given everything and carried the team and I through tough times, thank you.

Sarries will always be home for my wife and I, and we can’t wait to see what this squad can achieve.

All the best, Woolfy”

Breaking records and raising eyebrows, these players are leading the charge in the financial stakes of rugby union. Here's the rundown of the top earners in the game according to The Scotsman:

The South African skipper boasts an impressive resume with two Rugby World Cup triumphs and a commendable third-place finish. At French powerhouse Racing 92, Kolisi has been commanding a salary of £850,000, but with the recent arrival of Owen Farrell, he might be eyeing a bump in his paycheck.

De Klerk, another key figure in South Africa's World Cup-winning squad, has made his mark in Japan. Playing for the Yokohama Canon Eagles, he's banking a cool £900,000 annually, showcasing the global appeal of rugby's top talents.

Known for his electric pace and dazzling footwork, Cheslin Kolbe has become a sensation in the Japanese league with Suntory Sungoliath. The South African star is raking in an impressive £930,000 per year, proving that the allure of big money knows no borders.

England's talismanic former captain is set to join the million-pound club with his move to Racing 92. Already a hefty earner at Saracens, Farrell's switch to the French side is rumoured to catapult his earnings to over £1 million annually, solidifying his status as one of the game's highest-paid players.

Topping the charts is Scotland's standout playmaker, Finn Russell. With his move to Bath following the 2023 World Cup, Russell reportedly became the highest-paid rugby union player globally, boasting a salary of at least £1 million per year. However, with contenders emerging, the battle for the top spot is heating up in the world of rugby's financial elite.