Rob Howley has paid tribute to his former British & Irish Lions team-mate Scott Quinnell, who has been forced to retire from competitive rugby with a hand injury.
The pair toured with the Lions in 1997 and 2001 and lined up together on many occasions for Wales before both quitting the sport this season.
"It is a bit ironic how our careers have parallelled," Howley told the South Wales Echo. "But as a forward it is much harder to be at the top of your game than a back.
"Even though he was a marked man for Wales and the British Lions he still managed to go forward. He was a superb rugby player and took a lot of hits over the last years.
"Scott’s body has said ‘enough is enough’ and I wish him all the best in whatever he does in the future."
