Kent’s Shaunagh Brown is to call time on her rugby playing career.

The 32-year-old forward, who represented England at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup this year in New Zealand, will retire with 30 international caps to her name at the end of this December.

Multi-talented Brown, from Gillingham, represented her country in the hammer at the Commonwealth Games in July 2014 and had a brief flirt with boxing the following year.

She made her rugby debut in the 15-a-side game in December 2015 and pulled on an England rugby jersey for the first time in 2017 after taking up the sport at Medway RFC.

Brown said: “I couldn’t think of a better way to have spent the last seven years of my life than dedicating it to rugby and women and, although I will stop playing the game, I will still be pushing the boundaries for rugby and women alike.

“Rugby has only ever changed my life for the better. I’m so grateful that I was able to find the sport.

“Now, it’s time to concentrate on getting other people to find rugby and let it change their lives too.

“To all the coaches I’ve worked with and all my team-mates over the years, I’m grateful for your support and everything you’ve done.

“To those who have listened to me, pushed me and reminded me of excellence and told me I can achieve more than I can ever dream and told me I’m unstoppable, made me believe in myself and made me realise how much better I could do - thank you.”

Brown made her Test debut against Canada in November 2017.

The prop won four Women’s Six Nations titles, along with an Allianz Premier 15s title last year with club Harlequins.

Her final international cap came in England’s 34-31 World Cup final defeat to New Zealand last month at Eden Park.

Off the field, Brown - also a trained firefighter - is an influential figure in women’s sport and a passionate voice on societal issues, including race and equality.

At club level, she played for Aylesford Bulls in 2016/17 before Aylesford merged with Harlequin FC to become Premier 15s side Harlequins.

England Women head coach Simon Middleton added: “Shaunagh was a breath of fresh air when she first came into the programme.

“Her positivity and attitude towards being the best she could be and attacking the opportunity was really refreshing.

“I’ll always remember the first meeting she walked into where she sat right at the front. She’s never been afraid to put herself out there.

“If there is a question she wanted to ask, she would ask the question. She’s pretty fearless in how she attacks things and I think that’s a fantastic quality in a person.

“Shaunagh had a very clear and focused goal that she wanted to play at a World Cup. Matt Ferguson and I saw that she had the potential to be an international player but in a different position to back row where she’d played at club. We targeted her as a tight-head prop, a switch from a back row to tight-head is a huge switch.

“Being a tight-head is so technical and demanding, and she had to work really hard. It takes a lot of heart to be a rugby player but to be a front-rower takes courage and determination. It played to her strengths as she had those characteristics.

“At her very best, she’s been a pretty amazing player. In the Allianz Premier 15s final in 2021, Shaunagh did some spectacular things on the field. She’s been an outstanding player.

“To earn 30 caps is a tremendous number for someone who has fought hard for every cap. She achieved her goal of being selected for the World Cup squad, how much she was going to play was always a little dependent given the strength of the squad.

“Playing in the World Cup final was almost poetic justice for her. I sincerely hope she’ll be able to step away and feel she’s set out what she wanted to achieve.

“Shaunagh always has a smile on her face and her professionalism and positivity during the World Cup was exemplary.

“She knew it was going to be tough for her to get into the starting line-up but she got there. She never ever compromised her professionalism and commitment to the squad. She always had a massive commitment to the squad.

“Shaunagh has been - and will always be - a massive part of the Red Roses family.”

She recently took silver at the Medway Sports Awards as the top prize went to wheelchair rugby league's Joe Coyd.

Brown hopes to bow out in Harlequins’ Premier 15s fixture against Bristol Bears on Tuesday, December 27.