Edinburgh Rugby’s long-term hooker Ross Ford has announced his retirement from rugby after 15 years and nearly 300 club games.

The 35-year-old is also Scotland’s most-capped international with 110, while he won one cap for The British & Irish Lions on the 2009 tour to South Africa.

Ford announced his departure from Edinburgh at the end of last season and, after a couple of months of deliberation, he has decided to call it a day and take up a new role as strength and conditioning coach at the Fosroc Scottish Rugby academy.

“I always enjoyed the S&C side of things. It was always a big part of my game and it was something I was good at,” he said.

“Later in my career, I took a big interest in it and it became something I wanted to do after I finished playing, so I was really keen when this opportunity came up, especially being a Borders lad as well.

“There’s a lot of talent here, so if I can help them develop and make this one part of their game world-class then, hopefully, they’ll come through and go on to bigger and better things.

“I’m looking forward to getting in there and passing on some of the things I’ve learned, and show a level of work ethic they can follow and stand them in good stead to be the best player they can be, setting the tone wherever they go.