Ulster and Ireland captain Rory Best will retire from rugby after this year's World Cup in Japan.
The hooker, 36, made his Ulster debut in 2004 and has received 116 international caps.
"It is with mixed feelings that I announce my retirement from Ulster Rugby as of the end of this season," said Best.
"This feels like the right time for me to go out on my terms, a luxury for which I feel very privileged."
The announcement comes a month after Best indicated that the World Cup would be his international swansong, although there were suggestions that he may have sought to continue his club career into next season.
Best is currently sidelined with an ankle injury suffered during Ulster's European quarter-final defeat by Leinster.
In the absence of their captain Ulster have secured a home quarter-final in the Pro14 however that fixture, scheduled for 3/4 March, is likely to come too early for Best.
Should the northern province progress to the semi-finals, their captain will likely be fit to return to the fold.