English rugby league club Hull Kingston Rovers have agreed to release forward Rhys Lovegrove from the final year of his contract on compassionate grounds.
The 27-year-old Australian, who has made 159 appearances since joining the Robins from St George Illawarra in 2007, is calling time on his Super League career at the end of the season for family reasons.
"I've been here a long time but it's coming to the stage now where I need to put my family before my career," Lovegrove said.
"We've loved our time here but there are other experiences we are looking forward to. My kids are getting older and my partner has sacrificed a lot of things to live in Hull and support me as a professional player. It's time I returned the favour.
"I'd like to continue playing footy but at this stage we don't know where that may be."
Hull KR chief executive Mike Smith said: "Rhys has served Hull Kingston Rovers with distinction over the past eight seasons and has always been popular with the club's fans, thanks largely to his commitment on and off the field.
"We fully understand the reasons for him wanting to move on at the end of the season and we thank him for his service."
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