Former Harlequins winger Sam Smith has been forced to retire from the game having failed to recover from recurrent quadricep muscle tears.

The 26-year-old, who made 78 appearances for Quins, hasn't featured for Worcester Warriors since the Championship play-offs in May 2015, spending almost the whole of last season on the sidelines.

Smith racked up 15 tries in 19 appearances during Warriors' 2014/15 promotion-winning campaign, but will now focus on opening a speciality coffee shop - named Wayland's Yard - next to Worcester's Foregate Street train station in September.

The ex-Quin, who recently picked up a first-class honours degree in Politics and Economics, said: "I am obviously devastated to be moving on from rugby, a game that has given me so many amazing memories, opportunities and lifelong friends.

"I've tried everything I can to get back to full fitness, but it has become clear that now is the time for me to focus on my new path in life and I look forward to being able to share specialty coffee with as many people in Worcester as possible.

"I love Worcester and despite only living here for two years it's where I now call home and I'm excited to be setting up my dream in the heart of the city.

"I'd like to thank the Warriors staff, fans, my team-mates, family and girlfriend for their support through what has been a pretty difficult period.

"Of course, I will still be getting up to Sixways to watch the boys push on over the coming seasons and I have no doubt that the club will go on to achieve great success."